War Diary of Admiral, Black Sea, 1 December 1943 - 31 December 1943

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UNITED STATES NAVY

WAR DIARY

OF

ADMIRAL, BLACK SEA

1 DECEMBER, 1943-31 DECEMBER, 1943
PG NUMBERS 31544-31545

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WAR DIARY

OF

ADMIRAL, BLACK SM

1-31 December 1943

„._„______ ——————— 'i ■• -

PG Numbers 31544 - 31545

SECURITY INFORMATION

3d.it or ial Koto:

The translation oJ
was made in London,
Commander 3, It, Sanders., U ':■'.' R. When his London Office
was close I and the translation project was discontinued,
much unfinished material was sunt to Naval history Di-
vision, (CP-29).

"Because the diss emanation of the data con-
tained in these documents is important, the translations
and stencils have not been chocked for accuracy of in-
terpretation, phraseology, and spelling of officers' names
or geographical names. Distribution under those conditions
seems justified because of the excellent reputation of 'die
London personnel -and -because translators are not available
in Naval History Division, ilesearch to co'rrect possible
inconsistencies did not warrant '.die time involved.

pTi1':-' .' '■-">■ ; r. ' ." "n ■''•I? '7* ■' ' i rr
Office of the Chief of Naval Operations
Laval History Division
'Washington 25 } D. C,

CONFIDENTIAL

1 December, 1943

Simferopol

Enemy Situation;

Nothing was detected by night reconnaissance
over the northeastern Black Sea,

At 1305 approximately 7 miles northeast of
Ayanzik, daylight reconnaissance over the
central Black Sea sighted a coastal steamer of
1,000 tons, course east.

At 1425, according to a radio intercept report,
Ghelenjik air station transmitted a message to
an enemy reconnaissance plane, reporting 3
vessels, course 270°, speed 15 knots, in an
unidentified grid square. This report referred
to the 3 E-boats which left Balaklava at 1300
for Constantsa .

Main Naval p/p Station Reports :

Two E-boats were intercepted between the
northern and central parts of the east coast in
the evening. Only slight activity of small
vessels at night.

•ty

Submarines detected: 3 in the northwestern
Black Sea to west and southwest of the Crimea,
one of which was presumably homeward bound.
Four more submarines are thought to be in the
operational area. One further submarine is at
sea, position unknown.

According to this, S submarines are operating,
that is, three less than yesterday.

Own _S_i t ua 1 1 o n
Weather forecast:

S winds, force 4-5, cloudy, visibility 10
miles, sea 3,

Crimea and Kerch Strait ;

a. The, patrol line off Kamish Burun and Eltigen
reported no special incidents. No supply
traffic was seen. The beachhead was again
shelled at daybreak with 60 rounds from 7,5
cm, guns.

Naval ferry barges F 574 and F 341, which ran
aground near Kossa Tuszla, were completely
destroyed by our guns on the night of
50 November/1 December. - A heavy air raid

CONFIDENTIAL

SECURITY INFORMATION _1~

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was launched against Kamish Burun at 0545,
In which a direct hit w*as scored on F 575*
The boat is a total loss. F 559 was damaged
by splinters and is shipping water. There
were no casualties.

In further attacks on Kamish Burun, another
hit was scored on F 472 and her engines are
under water. F 548 probably has an
unexploded bomb in the double bottom*
F 575 sank after a second hit. One man
serious ly wounde d .

b. Group South was informed that it would be

impossible to keep the blockading patrols off
the Eltigen beachhead up to their previous
strength on account of the serious losses in
naval ferry barges in the Kerch operations.
Of the 10 naval ferry barges operational on
27 November, only 2 are still operational
today.

At a conference today this was. pointed out
to Commanding General, 17th Army H.Q. and I
again stressed the urgent necessity of mopping
up the Eltigen beachhead. Commanding General
agreed and stated that an attack was planned
for 4 December.

0 • Land Situation :

On the northern front, enemy harassing fire in
the Arabatz, Chongar, Karanki, Tarkhan and
Armiansk sectors.

The enemy continued work on the dam on either
side of Russki island. The southern part
has been completed, the northern part except
for 80 meters •

Two thrusts by enemy patrols were repulsed at
the Baksy bridgehead near Hill 155,5,

Operations ordered for the night of l/2 December;

1. Commander, 1st Landing Craft Flotilla received
orders to occupy the patrol lines off Kerch
and Kamish Burun with 2 naval ferry barges
off each port.

2. Five boats of 3rd Motor Minesweeper Flotilla
will occupy the patrol line between Chongelek
and Kamish Burun, concentrating off Eltigen.

The boats mentioned In paras. 1. and 2, are to
be in position at dusk and should leave again
at dawn.

3i NK ;S:TIAL

SEC1 FRIT Y ' ItfFORMATI ON -2-

CONFIDENTIAL

Before commencing return passage, the motor mine-
sweepers are to shell the Eltigen beachhead.
50 rounds to be fired at intervals by each boat.
1st Air Corps has been requested to provide
fighter cover for the motor minesweepers on both
outward and homeward, passage.

The patrol lines were occupied from dusk onwards
except for the one in Kerch Bay, which could not
be occupied after further naval ferry barges were
damaged in the air raid on Kamish Burun. At the
moment only 2 naval ferry barges are still
operational .

^^te?mj^la.c}^ S_e_a ;

It was pointed out to Commander, Convoys and
Escorts, Black Sea that the serious losses in
tugs caused by rough seas and the consequent
decline in transport potential would in future
make It necessary to -take weather conditions Into
consideration when dispatching towed convoys.
On the other hand, in order to ensure seaborne
supplies to the Crimea, the vessels must operate
as often as possible. The possibility of
executing the operation will be decided in each
case by Commander, Convoys and Escorts, Black Sea
as the responsible authority. Army Croup A and
17th Army H.Q, have been informed.

1st Air Corps was requested to repeat the recent
attack on the air base at Skadovsk. The object
Is to damage the enemy air bases in the Skadovsk
area as much as possible as they are used by
bombers and torpedo planes operating against our
convoys in the northwestern Black Sea.

At 1550 256 bombs, type SD 50, were dropped on the
air base. Three large fires wore observed and?
as the planes turned away, 1 large and several
smaller explosions were observed.

As no mines were found by motor minesweepers (RA),
FZ-boats and rninesweeping planes in Eupatoria Bay
where "Santa Fe" exploded, It is now thought even
more probable that she sank as a result of an
internal explosion. Sabotage is possible. Sea
Transportation Offices have received orders to
keep a sharp look-out when loading ships.

Anti-submarine patrol had to be canceled in
Eupatoria Bay because of the weather. Three
E~boats loft Balaklava at 1300 for Constantza to
undergo repairs . Four naval ferry barges, with-
drawn from the Kerch operations, left Thcodosia
at 1600 for Sevastopol for a period in dock.

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SECURITY INFORMATION -3-

CONFIDENTIAL

South Coast Crimea :

Commander, Convoys and Escorts, Crimean Coast
received orders to transfer naval ferry barges
F 578, F 342 and P 305 from Sevastopol to Yalta
in the evening • P 342 and P 305 are to be
unloaded as quickly as possible after arrival
in Yalta, so that the 3 boats can be dispatched
to Theodosia on the evening of 2 December for
operations in Kerch Strait. The boats will
leave Sevastopol at 2100.

U-boat Si t ua t i on :

U 9 and U 20, on southeasterly patrol off the
Caucasus coast, were detailed to new attack
areas off Poti. IT 19 reported that she would
be off Constantza at 0600 on 2 December.
Escort and radio beacon have been ordered.
Naval Pit ting -out and Repair Depot, Galatz
examined the damage caused by depth charges
aboard U 18 and reported that, In addition to
serious damage to the batteries, the propeller
shafts arc hammering and the Diesel engine
foundations are loose. The shafts and engines
will probably have to be refitted. It is
unlikely that the boat will be operational again
before the end of January 1944, The repairs
will be undertaken systematically so that, by
caulking the pressure hulls provisionally, she
can, if necessary, be towed to Constantza before
the Danube freezes over.

On the basis of a report from a German inter-
preter, German Naval Command Informed me that
there is a da.nger that the personnel of the
Italian Submarine Flotilla in Constantza may
desert. German Naval Command requested
directives regarding action to be taken If an
investigation should confirm this suspicion.
Before Admiral, Black Sea received this request
from German Naval Command, Group South had
ordered that, without mentioning the suspected
intentions of the Italians to desert, the
Rumanians should be informed that Germany might
take over the Italian submarines. Possible
unreliability of the Italians "would be counter-
acted, if the need arose, by placing German
guards on the boats and berthing places.
Admiral, Black Sea has requested C-in-C Italian
Fleet and the Fleet Engineer to attend a
conference at Simferopol, and intends to transfer
the entire flotilla to Linz inside the Gorman
sphere of influence. Group South and German
Naval Command have been informed.

CONFireSITIAL

SECURITY INFORMATION -h-

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"At 1110, .'". in spite "of thick fog, enemy, planes
launched "'an attack In 2. waves against 1st
/pat tery., 'Naval Gunnery Detachment 90.3,\and the
.oil . harbor at Ochakov. There were no losses.
A few barges were damaged by blast.

Mlneswe ep.lng. .Act ivity ; ,,,• i- _.■..,-■

Two motor' mine sweepers (-RA ) made a check sweep
in- Eupatoi'ia harbor entrance with oropesa gear,
type 4, covering a -width of 800 meters. No
min°s were swept,. , A mlneswe eping .plane swept
the: area" south of route Green '40/4-1 In' strips
,400 meters wide o,; ..The area., was- checked twice.
No mlrfe s ' we re s'wo pt , "

Supply/. Traf f i.c^;.;r.*?" ■ I ,

There was little convoy traffic in the. western
Black Sea because of the weather, No'thirig to
report, ,.,.,.

SECURITY INFORMATION -5-

n.^-^>-

CONFIDENTIAL

2 De c emb er , 1 943

Simferopol

No enemy shipping was sighted by night
reconnaissance over the Crimean and Caucasus
coasts as far as Cape Pitsunda.

The central Black Sea was checked during the
day. At 0700 a Turkish freighter of 5,000
tons on westerly course was sighted approximately
16 miles north of Ayanzik, A radio intercept
report confirmed that the destroyer recently
Intercepted In a base in the northwestern Black
Sea had left port heading in a southeasterly
direction. The position of an unidentified
vessel operating approximately 14 miles west-
northwest of Pot I was transmitted to her.

Main Naval d/f Station Report's i

The destroyer which left base was intercepted
between the northern and the central parts of
the east coast, course southeast, A minesweeper
was intercepted off the southern part of the
east coast.

Radio intelligence detected no activity of
surface forces In the east coast area or in the
Sea of Azov.

Submarines detected: 5 In the northwestern
Black Sea to west and southwest of the Crimea,
one of which was approaching from a south-
easterly direction. There were probably 3
further submarines in the operational area, one
of which was homeward bound. Two more boats
"wore detected at sea, position unknown, .
According to tb.is, 9 submarines were operating.

Own Situation s

Weather forecast

CONFIDENTIAL

seen In the period of good visibility.
Lively enemy air- activity with bombing raids
on our patrol forces. Ground attack planes
attacked our motor minesweepers several times
while they were returning to Theodosia, Our
fighter escort brought down 9 enemy planes,

b. Naval Gunnery Detachment 613 reported

continuous ferry traffic observed during the
day under cover of smoke screens.

During the day, ground attack planes with
strong fighter escort carried out continuous
heavy attacks on the southern beachhead,
bombing and machine-gunning our positions and
the rear area. 104 supply canisters were
dropped over Eltigen.

Kamish Burun was bombed and machine-gunned
several times during the day and evening.

c . La n d S i t ua tion ;

Mornings At 1S00, after heavy preparatory
shelling on the northern front, the enemy
began to attack the western sector of the
Perekop front. The attacks were repulsed
with the exception of one breakthrough in a
sector 4 00 meters by 250 motors. The point
of penetration was narrowed down in counter-
attacks. Fighting continues.

All was quiet at the beachheads. Air supplies
still arriving at Eltigen. A new Russian
division has appeared at the Baksy beachhead.

Evening: The enemy breakthrough on the
Perekop front was reduced still further ;
fighting continues. An enemy attack on
Hill 17,6 was repulsed. Lively enemy fire
against the main defense line at the Baksy
beachhead. Ground attack planes attacked the
main defense line at Eltigen and Kamish Burun
c on t inuous ly .

Operations ordered for the night of 2/3 December:

Patrol lines will be as follows:

a. Commander, 1st Landing Craft Flotilla will
send 3 naval ferry barges to the patrol line
off Kamish Burun,

b. 5 boats of 3rd Motor Minesweeper Flotilla off
Eltigen,

c. 2 boats of 1st E-Eoat Flotilla between Takll
and Chongclok,

SECURITY INFORMATION -7-

CONFIDENTIAL

Orders for execution as before. The vessels
of 3rd Motor Minesweeper Flotilla will shell
the Eltigen beachhead before returning. 50
rounds will be fired by each boat at Intervals.
1st Air Corps was requested to provide fighter
escort for the motor minesweepers and E-boats
on outward and return passage.

Weste m Black Sea :

Naval C-roup South was Informed that, since UMB
and UMC mines with contact release or antenna
firing are not available, the proposed minefield
off the Sulina estuary is to be laid in two rows
In the form of a staircase at depths of minus 10
and minus 3 meters. . At 1445, approximately 20
miles west of Eupatoria, an explosion occurred
aboard naval ferry barge F 566 which was
proceeding from Odessa to Sevastopol in a towed
convoy. The boat became a complete loss and
Is drifting, keel upwards. The reason for the
explosion is not known. On 3 December motor
minesweepers (RA) will make a check sweep for
moored mines outside the prescribed route where
the accident occurred. The possibility of
ground .mines can be discounted on account of the
depth of the water, . No torpedo track was seen,
12 men were rescued, 4 are missing.

The anti-submarine group, comprising "Xantcn"
and submarine chasers Nos . 303 and 306, which
left Sevastopol for the waters off Eupatorla at
15 00, had to put about at 2100 owing to trans-
mission disorders and breakdown of the hydro-
phonos.

Commander, Convoys and Escorts, Crimean Coast
received orders to dispatch the "Roller'- towed
convoy from Sevastopol to Odessa at midnight on
2 December.. Motor minesweepers (RA) are to
provide additional protection against mines as
far as Tarkhankutzki and are then to check with
oropesa gear the area where F 566 sank. The
convoy should not leave route Green, as this
route was swept In the last few days to a width
of 500 motors as far as Green 39,

Naval ferry barges F 17 0 and F 316 will leave
Yalta for Sevastopol at 16 00 for a period in
dock.

South Coast Crimea:

E-boat S 49 left Constantsa at 1800 for Ivan
Baba, after having a now propeller installed.
At 1925 naval ferry barges F 342, 505 and 578
left Yalta for Thcodosia for operations off
Kerch, F 304, 540 and 472, which were put out
of action in the Kerch operations, will leave
Kamis'h Burun at 16 00 for Thcodosia,

CC::?IDE'TIAI

SECURITY IIIFC JRMATI0N -8-

CONFIDENTIAL

1Kb oa t Situation :

U 19 arrived In Constantza at 1215 from her 15th
operation (6th Black Sea operation).

The situation with regard to the Italian
Submarine Flotilla Is not yet entirely clear.
According to a detailed report from Commander,
Convoys and Escorts, the Italian barracks were
found occupied by Rumanian forces and the 5
Italian midget submarines were flying Rumanian
colors. Captain Macelariu, C-in-C Rumanian
Naval Forces, stated that the Italian Submarine
Flotilla was handed over to Rumania with a
written declaration from the Commanding Admiral,
as the personnel of the Italian Submarine
Flotilla were no longer willing to wage war on
the German side. A sharp protest has been made
to the Rumanian High Command on whose orders
C-in-C Naval Forces claims to have acted. This
protest was supported by Naval Group South,
All equipment and personnel at Sevastopol have
been taken Into German custody (1 petty officer,
2 men and varying equipment).

Mine sweeping Activity :

Motor minesweepers (RA) made a check sweep in
Eupatoria Bay to a width of 5 00 meters. No
mines were swept.

Supply Traffic;

At 0735 an Ineffective submarine attack was made
on the Odessa-Sevastopol towed convoy in air
grid square 26 55, The same convoy was attacked
at 1040 off Karacha by 3 Russian bombers and 5
fighters. No damage was reported. No other
Incidents In convoy traffic, '

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SECURITY INFORMATION -9-

CONFIDENTIAL

3 December, 1945

Sim feropol

Enemy Situations

There was no night reconnaissance because of
the weather. In varying visibility 4 planes
covered the central and eastern Black Sea during
the day. No enemy shipping was seen. There
was no reconnaissance of the Caucasus coast,
A freighter of 3,000 tons was sighted on course
east, In Turkish territorial waters, approximately
15 miles northeast of Ayanzik, Two other
freighters were seen about 5 miles north of
Ayanzik, course east, and a passenger vessel of
5,000 tons about 5 miles northeast of Bafra
Burnu, course west.

At 2150 night reconnaissance reported 2 vessels,
probably coastal vessels, and 3 M.T.B.s, course
north, medium speed, approximately 25 miles
n o r t hw e s t of Tua p s o ,

Main Naval D/f Station Reports :

According to the radio picture, there was no
activity of surface forces during the night.

Submarines detected t 4 In the northwestern
Black Sea to west and southwest of the Crimea j
according to radio intelligence, 2 more were
operating approximately 60 miles south of Cape
Khersonese, One submarine was homeward bound
and another was at sea, position unknown.

Own Situations

Weather forecast:

W - NW winds, force 3 - 4, along the west coast
of the Crimea temporarily force 5, cloudy, rain
in patches, visibility 10 miles, sea 2 - 3,

Crimea and Kerch Strait :

a. Last night nothing was sighted by naval ferry
barges, motor minesweepers and E-boats in
patrol line off Kerch Strait, The beachhead
was shelled by motor minesweepers and E-boats
at 0300. No landing operations. All boats
re turned t o ba so,

b. According to a report from Naval Gunnery
Detachment 613, there was ferry traffic to the
northern beachhead during the day under cover
of smoke screens. No Russian air activity
over the southern beachhead. Routine shelling

CONFlDJa-iTIAL

SECURITY INFORMATION -10-

CONFIDENTIAL

by batteries. Isolated bombs were dropped by
Russian planes during the night In the coastal
area. Shelling from Kossa Chushka during the
night, no shelling during the day.

Morning: At the point of penetration on the
Perekop front, the enemy was forced to with-
draw still further northeast of Kula.

An. attack to annihilate the enemy is in
progress. 'The dam under construction north
of Russki has been completed. Thus a
connection with the enemy beachhead has been
established across the Slvash.

With, the exception of heavy attacks by enemy
ground attack planes, there was no action at
the beachheads on Kerch Strait.

Evening: The enemy penetration on the Perekop
front was mopped up with the exception of a
few pockets of resistance. Enemy concen-
trations near Hill 17,6 were shelled by our
guns. All quiet at the beachheads.

o

Operations ordered for the night of 3/4 December:

Commander, 1st Landing Craft Flotilla will send
3 naval ferry barges to the patrol line off
Karnish Burun. At dusk, 6 boats of 1st E-Boat
Flotilla will be stationed between Takil and
Karnish Burun, concentrating on Eltigen.

According to a report received here, the enemy is
expected to make an attempt to bring up more
supplies to the Eltigen beachhead in the coming
night ,

Commanders, 1st E-Boat Flotilla and 1st Landing
Craft Flotilla have received orders to prevent
the reinforcement of the enemy forces in the
Eltigen beachhead at all costs. As the enemy
will most probably try to make the most- of the
twilight to bring through their supplies, 1st
E-Boat Flotilla will pass Cape Takil on outward
passage at 16 00 at the latest and on return
passage at 0430 at the earliest. Before turning
about, the' E-boats will bombard the Eltigen
beachhead with 4 cm, guns.

The naval ferry barges and E-boats were in
position at 1630. The patrol line off Eltigen
was manned by only 5 E-boats, as S 47 had to
return to Ivan Baba at 16 00 because of engine
trouble, 1st Air Corps was requested to provide
fighter escort for the E-boats while outward and
homeward bound.

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SECURITY INFORMATION -11-

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fe stern Black

7

It is believed that the "Diogenes" towed convoy
was probably attacked twice by the same submarine
on 2 December and that naval ferry barge F 566
was torpedoed in the second attack.

Since slow towed convoys are especially vulnerable
owing to the fact that submarines can gain a sub-
merged lurking position ahead of them, Commander,
Convoys and Escorts, Black Sea received orders
not to employ naval ferry barges loaded with
valuable cargo (e.g. assault guns) to protect
slew convoys or to attach them to such convoys.
They must be used to make the most of their
maximum speed, passing the especially dangerous
Tarkhankutzkl -Gape Lukull area during the night.

Commander, German Naval Command was informed that
we approve the laying of minefield S 76 in the
Sulina estuary. Naval Shore Commander, Ukraine
reported that, in view of the enemy situation,
the Henke regiment had o vacua bed all cranes,
bridge sections and barges from Kherson and the
mouth of the Dnieper Delta to Ochakov on the
night of 2/3 December without suffering any
losses. According to a report from Naval Harbor
Master, Ochakov, naval gunnery lighter No. 4,
which has been operating as a floating battery
off Pervomoisk, has been bombarding the enemy on
KImburn Peninsula continuously since 10 November.
700 rounds have been fired up to now.

The commander of naval ferry barge F 566 stated
that the boat was hit b;y a torpedo launched by a
submarine west of Eupatoria. A second torpedo
passed astern, F 566 had 3 assault guns and an
armored reconnaissance car on board.

Submarine chasers Nos . 102 and 103 left Sevastopol
at 1545 for the Tarkhankutzkl -Eupatoria area to
carry out anti-submarine operations. At 2131 a
surfaced subm.ar.ine was shelled in air grid square
2677.

"Xanten" reported that at 2209, while under way
from Sevastopol to Constantza, a submerging
submarine was sighted approximately 30 miles
s o u t hw e s t o f Ta rkha nku t zk I *

Commander, Convoys and Escorts, Black Sea was
ordered to send 4 boats of 23rd Submarine Chaser
Flotilla on anti-submarine patrol west of
Tarkhankutzkl from 4 December.

Commander, Convoys and Escorts, Crimean Coast
received orders to send naval ferry barges F 395,
401 and 447 from Sevastopol to Theodosia at 1400
to strengthen the patrol line in Kerch Strait.

C0bTl_d_TTAL

SECURITY INFORMATION -12-

CONFIDENTIAL

South Coast Crimea :

Naval, ferry barges F 578, 3 05 and 342, which left
Yalta for operations in Kerch Strait, arrived, at
Theodosia at 0645,

Naval ferry barges F 304, 540 and 472, which are
temporarily out of action, arrived at Theodosia
from Kara is h Burun at 0740.

U-boa t Situation :

U 20 reported that she would commence return
passage from the operational area to Constantza
on 4 December.

Enemy Air Activity :

Several planes dropped bombs on Ochakov at 1403.
No damage was reported.

Mine^sj;ej)jf^lngL_ _Ac t ivity i

Two motor minesweepers (RA) made a check sweep
of the area' west of Eupatoria where F 566 sank.
Two mlnesweeping planes were In action over the
Danube Delta. No mines were swept in 3 checks.

Supply Traffics

With the exception of 1 Sevastopol-Odessa towed
convoy, which put in to Ak Mechet because of the
weather, convoys In the western Black Sea and off
the south coast of the Crimea ran as scheduled
without incident.

CONFIuRKTIAL

^r5T:fRITY>NFf,i:-i\TI0N -13-

CONFIDENTIAL

i-^£®L1]2®ijL-Aiii5.

Simferopol

Enemy _S i t ua t i o n :

A small convoy was sighted by night reconnaissance
off Tuapse. No enemy vessels were sighted in
the entire Black Sea area. A freighter of 2,000
tons on a westerly course was sighted off the
Turkish coast approximately 8 miles northeast of
Ayanzik. A coastal vessel of 6 00 tons on a
southeasterly course was detected approximately
10 miles east of Sinope and a freighter of
4-5,000 tons was observed on a westerly course
8 miles north of Bafra Burnu.

According to aerial photographic reconnaissance,
the following vessels were in port:

Fishery Ilich (partly obscured); 1 wreck (old),
2 large and 8 small coastal vessels and
approximately 5' boats.

Kossa Chushka headlands 3 coastal vessels on
varying courses, 5 ferries, 2 medium and 5 small
coastal vessels,, approximately 30 boats, some
beached, and 1 wreck (old).

Kossa Tuszla headland; 1 small coastal vessel,
course west, medium speed, and what appeared to
be wrecks along the coast,

Taman: 2 M.T.B.s, 7 small armed coastal vessels,
10 small coastal vessels, 6 ferries and
approximately 20 boats.

Fishery Krotkoff: 4 vessels, apparently motor
gunboats, and about 5 boats.

Cape Kany jetty; 3 boats.

Cape Euchugury jetty: about 5 boats,

Senaya Bay; 16 motor landing craft, 1 small
. coastal vessel and approximately 10 boats, some
beached,

Gluchoi channel (very misty): 2 motor gunboats,
4 pontoon ferries, and 1 lighter of about 500
tons In the Kuban estuary.

No essential changes in the number of ships in
port since the last reconnaissance.

cu;>!niM:Ti;d.

SECURITY INFORMATION -14-

CONFIDENTIAL

Main Naval. P/j? ,/:Jj^}.j?jrj0i^„.^ej3 o rjbs :

Slight 'activity of small coastal vessels
continued. Two minesweepers were detected
between the central and southern parts of the
east coast.

Submarines detected; 4 in the northwestern
Black Sea to the area west and southwest of the
Crimea, one of which was heard being called.
According to Intelligence, 2 more submarines
were probably in the operational area. One
submarine was intercepted between the central
and eastern Black Sea.

Own Situation:

Weather forecast:

Light variable winds, .mainly fair, visibility
10 miles, early mist, sea' 1 - 2.

Naval Group South was informed of the present
naval ferry barge situation:

30 boats operational, 5 operational with
limitations and 31 out of action. Since
1 November, 14 naval ferry barges have been lost
and 16 damaged by enemy action. The number of
naval ferry barges is now insufficient to
execute the urgent escort and supply tasks.
As further serious losses are to bo expected
considering the present situation in the Black
Sea, Group South has been requested to do all In
their power to speed up the completion and
transfer of naval ferry barges under construction.

2 1'2-J'^B- .i1/1,^ Kerch Strait :

a. Nothing was reported by the naval ferry barges
in patrol line off Kamish Burun last night.
At 0130 1st E-Boat Flotilla attacked 2 motor
gunboats in Kerch Strait off Eltigcnj thoy
were probably on reconnaissance* Returning
our fire with rocket-firing and 3,7 cm, guns,
the enemy withdrew at once at high speed In
a Southeasterly direction.

The E-boats were bombed several timos by enemy
plane's between 1840 and 0330. An engine in
one of the boats was put out of action by
blast. Casualties were suffered. There
wore no soabprne supplies to the beachhead.

Lively air supply traffic was observed.

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b • La nd S i tuatio n :

Morning: 6th Rumanian Cavalry Division
launched an attack against Eltigen. By 0800
several breakthroughs had been made in the
main enemy defense line and a few reinforced
points had been taken. Lively enemy
activity at the Baksy beachhead seems to
indicate the Imminence of an attack to relieve
Eltigen.

Reconnaissance thrusts and another attempted
breakthrough were repulsed on the Perekop
front.

Evening" Our own attack from the south
against the Eltigen beachhead advanced as far
as the lighthouse at Werchn Burun. The
attack from the west made only little headway.
The .attack will be continued early on
5 December. The enemy attacks on the Baksy
beachhead launched after heavy preparatory
shelling (about 35,000 rounds fired by 5 or 6
divisions and 25 tanks) were repulsed after
heavy fighting _in front of our main defense
line. 13 tanks wore put out of action.
It was a complete defensive success* No
fighting worth mentioning on the northern
front. The enemy is 'receiving continuous
reinforcements in the Sivash beachhead. An
attack is expected shortly.

Operations ordered for the night of 4/5 December*

The Army commenced the attack on the Eltigen
beachhead this morning at 0500. The enemy will
do everything in their power to bring reinforce-
ments to the beachhead by sea, I have there-
fore ordered a reinforcement of the patrol lines.

With special reference to the situation in the
beachhead, the following order was issued to
Commanders, 1st Landing Craft Flotilla and 3rd
Motor Minesweeper Flotillas

a. Commander, 1st Landing Craft Flotilla Is to
send 5 naval ferry barges to the patrol line
off Kamish Burun. The 6 naval ferry barges
which left Theodosia at 1050 should occupy
the patrol line off Eltigen. They should
shell the northern part of the present beach-
head between 0300 and 0400 with 20 shells
each from their 7.5 cm. guns, aimed to fall
between the coast and 400 motors Inland. As
the southern part of the beachhead Is in our
hands, the bombardment should only bo carried
out if the targets can bo seen clearly. The
boats will return to Kamish Burun after dawn
or, if there is mist, when It has lifted.

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b. Three "boats of 3rd Motor Minesweeper Flotilla
are to occupy the patrol line between Cape
Takil and Chongelek. The boats will leave
Theodosla at 1500 at maximum speed. At 0330
they will commence return passage to
Theodosla. No fighter escort will be
available •

All patrol lines were occupied as scheduled.
The naval ferry barges off Kamish Burun made
contact with 5' enemy M.T.B.s at 1841.

At 2335 the patrol force off Eltigen had an
engagement with 4 or 5 gunboats and landing
craft.

c Naval Shore Commander, Caucasus received
orders to inform 5th Army Corps that the
beachhead was going to be shelled, and to
arrange for our own forces to fire white stars
at once, should our own lines be bombarded by
mistake. It should also be pointed out to
5th Army Corns that as it is necessary to
blockade the' beachhead until dawn, the naval
ferry barges will enter Kamish Burun In spite
of the grave danger from gunfire and planes.
The risk will be taken with a view to
supporting the mopping-up of the beachhead to
the last, 1st Air Corps was informed.

Western Black Sea s

Commander, Naval Air, Black Sea reported that the
Rumanian fighter squadrons In Akkermann and Sadki
could riot act as fighter escort for convoys, as
they are primarily Intended as local defense for
Odessa, SuIIna and Akkermann,

On the basis of this report, it was pointed out
to 4th Air Force that, in view of the ever-
Increasing enemy air activity, a further
weakening of fighter protection for convoys would
certainly result In irreplaceable losses in
freighter tonnage. Seaborne supplies to the
Crimea, for which even now there are not enough
ships, would become even more precarious. If
Rumania should insist on limiting fighter
protection, it would not be possible to transfer
German fighters solely for the purpose of
escorting convoys ,

Naval Liaison Officer reported to Army Group A
that according to a report from Naval Shore
Commander, "'Ukraine the enemy had started to
attack Kimburn and that the Rumanians were
expected to evacuate the peninsula. It was
especially emphasized that In the event of an
evacuation of the western part of Kimburn, the
Odessa-Ochakov-Nikolalev sea route could no

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longer be used* It was therefore vital to hold
the position.

The area west of Eupatoria where F 566 sank was
checked by motor minesweepers (RA). No mines
were found. The commander's statement that the
naval ferry barge was sunk by a torpedo would
thus seem to be substantiated. Five submarine
chasers are on patrol in the Eupatoria -Gape
Tarkhankutzki area. At 1030 submarine chasers
Nos, 102 and 105 were unsuccessfully attacked by
a submarine with 2 torpedoes. Anti-submarine
operations were started at once. Oil and air
bubbles were seen after the third depth charge
attack, A Russian fire-extinguisher floated to
the surface and was salvaged. Search gear could
not bo used because of the rough sea. The
submarine chasers returned to Sevastopol to take
in more depth charges •

Mines arc suspected to have been laid off Kherson
as low-flying planes were seen In this area,
The Sevastopol-Balaklava route was closed to
shipping, A sweep will bo made early on
5 December,

At 16 00 2 repair barges from Kerch Strait and

I naval ferry barge (tanks) left Theodosla for
Sevastopol,

1st Air Corps was informed that 9 naval ferry
barges would be In Kamish Burun on 5 December
and that strong enemy air attacks were to be
expected. Fighter protection was requested,

U-boat Situation s

U 20 commenced return passage to Constantza from
the operational area to refuel.

Brief report from U 19 (6th Black Sea operation)?

II Novembers Outward bound via the northern

route. Nothing to report,

15 November- At 1535 sighted smoke, bearing

235°^ and pursued it at full speed
without success,

16 November; Lost sight of it at 1700 in dark-

ness, ' Sighted a tanker convoy at
1900, shadowed it, transmitting
D/F signals, and then attacked,

At 2130 fired a fan-of-three
torpedoes, angle on the bow 70°,
enemy speed 11 knots, angle of
spread 2°, range 4,500 meters,

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torpedo type T 4, magnetic firing,

The :

was a destroyer ahead of the

convo3?" and 4 guar db oats acting as
remote escort*

November :

29 Hovembo

Moonlight night. Torpedoes missed
the target. Continued to shadow
the convoy until" it was off Tuapse.
Remained In the operational area
until 2000 on 25 November when
transferred. Sighted nothing and
observed only slight air activity.

At 2020 attacked a westbound
submarine with a single torpedo.
The torpedo missed as the enemy
altered course* Had to give up
the pursuit as the enemy had
superior speed.. With the
exception of submarine chasers,
nothing was seen In the operational
area.

Commenced return passage via the
southern route. Nothing to report.

2 December: At 1215 arrived

Constantza,

Enemy Air A^biyity °

Ochakov was bombed at 0920. 13 planes made
another attack at 1405. No damage reported.

Ml ne swe e ping Activity %

Two motor minesweepers (RA) made a check sweep
in the area where naval ferry barge P 566 sank
and continued mineswocping on route Green with
oroposa gear, 15-meter pendant. No mines were
swept. Two mincsweeping planes were operating
over the Danube Delta. No mines wore swept in
6 checks in 4 different areas.

Supply Traffic;

Convoys in the western Black Sea ran as
scheduled without Incident,

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SECURITY INFORMATION

-19-

CONFIDENTIAL

5 December,^ 1945

Simf e r opo 1

En emy Sit ua t Ion :

No enemy shipping was sighted during night
reconnaissance along the Caucasus coast and over
the northwestern Black Sea and no vessels were
detected in the course of exhaustive daylight
reconnaissance over the entire Black Sea,
including the Caucasus coast as far as Cape
PItsunda,

A passenger vessel of 5,000 tons was sighted,
course east, in Turkish territorial waters off
Cape Sinope, A freighter of 5,000 tons was also
sighted, course west, 15 miles northwest of Bafra
Burnu, and a freighter of 5,000 tons, course
southeast, off Amasra-. There were no enemy
shipping movements in the western Sea of Azov.

According to photographic reconnaissance between
5 0 November and 4 December, the enemy had the
following boats and small naval craft In Kerch
Strait (Taman Peninsula) from Temriuk to Cape
Tuszla, and on the Kerch Peninsula from Cape
Chroni to Cape Kany and Eltigen:

15 small armed vessels,
motor i
M .T.B.i

9 motor gunboats,

28 motor landing craft,

5 tugs for the motor landing craft,
17 ferries,
5 c oa s ta 1 ve s s e Is ( small )
and 18 0 boats.

The ferry traffic in the northern part of Kerch
Strait is concentrated in the narrow area between
Kossa Chushka and the jetties on the Kerch side
between Gleiki, grid square 66642 and Cape Kany,
grid square 66648. Most of the ferry traffic
runs during the night. The boats which attempt
to get seaborne supplies to the Eltigen beach-
head each night leave Taman and other jetties as
far as Krotkoff, So far, our naval forces have
prevented them from doing so.

Results of photographic reconnaissance :

Gluchoi channel (out of focus); 2 large motor
gunboats, 4 craft, probably ferries, and 7
probable boats.

Channel near Achtanisevka i 2 ferries and about
15 boats.

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Fishery Iliohj 1 large motor gunboat, 1 small
motor gunboat, 1 coastal vessel of 750 tons,
1 paddle steamer about 50 meters long, and about
22 boats.

Main Naval d/f Stiition___Rej^orts_: '

Continued activity of small coastal vessels.
Three further M.T.B.s were intercepted off the
northern part of the east coast.

Submarines detected: 2 in ' the northwestern
Black Sea and the area west and southwest of the
Crimea, 4 more probably in the operational area
and 1 in the eastern Black Sea.

Own Situation:
Weather forecast:

Entire Crimean Coast: Variable winds, force
2-3, cloudy, visibility 10 miles, sea 2,

9

Ak Mochet: Winds temporarily W, force 4 •
sea 3 .

^llrcc a _ an d Kerch S trait :

a. Group South was informed that General

Jaenecke, Commanding General, 17th Army H.Q»,
sent the following radiogram to C-in-C Navy
direct on 5 December:

"On the night of 4/5 December, the Russians
made a great effort to bring up fresh forces
and supplies to the heavily battered Eltigen
beachhead, to which in the last few days only
air supplies had got through* This attempt,
as all others, was repulsed by the coastal
defense forces of Admiral, Black Sea although
they suffered heavy losses. in gratitude
for such effective help, I would like to say
the following:

The operations of the naval forces of Admiral,
Black Sea in the battle for the beachheads are
decisive and, in spite of the serious losses,
indispensable. This type of operation is of
groat significance in the defense of the
Crimea as it obviously demonstrates to the
Russians the difficulties of fresh landings,
and has so far stopped them from making any."

Appendix to para, 2:

Admiral, Black Sea is of the same opinion with
regard to the importance of the Kerch
operations. It must be pointed out, however,
that the very great losses in naval ferry

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barges in Kerch Strait will cause a shortage
of shipping for Crimea supplies, and will in
the long run lead to an impossible situation
because of the supply demands of 17th Army
H.Q,. Commanding Admiral brought this to the
notice of C-in-C on 2 Decembers

b. At 0045 9 naval ferry barges from the patrol
line in Kerch Strait put in to Kamish Burun,
and at 062 0 5 motor minesweepers put in to
Theodosia,

At 1840 the naval ferry barges off Kamish
Burun fought off 5 enemy M.T.B.s with guns
after they had been attacked with torpedoes.
At 2330 the naval ferry barges off Eltigen
had an engagement with motor gunboats and
landing craft which were on their way to
Eltigen. Two motor gunboats, 1 tiig and

1 barge with ammunition were sunk in this
action.

The remaining enemy forces, consisting of
ab out 5 vessels, wi t hdr e w t o the east.
Aboard the naval ferry barges, there were

2 men seriously wounded and 7 slightly
wounded. No supplies got through. The
motor minesweepers made no enemy contact.
"While homeward bound, they were machine-
gunned by 2 fighters about 15 miles east of
Theodosia, There were several casualties
aboard one of the motor minesweepers.

Mornings At 0700 the attack on the Eltigen
beachhead was renewed. Since 06 00 the enemy
has again been attacking the Baksy beachhead
near Kolonka and south of Bulganak, supported
by tanks . ,

Only patrol activity on the SIvash front.

Evening; More ground was gained in the attack
on the Eltigen beachhead. Several field
fortifications and fortified heights were
taken. All enemy attacks in the Baksy beach"
head were repulsed despite strong enemy tank
support. Nine tanks were put out of actien.

Slight shelling and Infantry activity on the
northern front.

Operations ordered for the night of 5/6 December:

Commanders, 1st Landing Craft Flotilla and 3rd
Motor Minesweeper Flotilla were informed of the
situation at the Eltigen beachhead, and of the

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possibility that the enemy might renew their
attempts to bring up reinforcements by sea in the
coming night. They received the following
orders i

a. Prom dusk 3 naval ferry barges will occupy the
.patrol line off Kamish Burun and 6 others

between Kamish Burun and Chongelek, concen-
trating off Eltigen.

The 6 naval ferry barges off Eltigen will
bombard the enemy beachhead between 0300 and
0400 between Kilometers 45 and 47,5, each
firing 30 rounds from their 7,5 cm. guns.
The fire should fall between the coast and 400
meters inland. All naval ferry barges will
return to Kamish Burun after dawn.

b. 3rd Motor Minesweeper Flotilla will send 3
boats to the patrol line between Takil and
Chongelek, Times of sailing etc, as for
yesterday.

The patrol lines were occupied in good time.
The disposition of forces off Kamish Burun and
Eltigen had to be changed as F 305 and F 569 were
lost in an air raid on Kamish Burun at 1150,
while F 447 was put out of action. There were
therefore only 2 naval ferry barges in the patrol
line off Kamish Burun and 4 off Eltigen,

Western Black Sea i

Naval Harbor Master, Ochakov reported that KImburn
Peninsula, had been in enemy hands since morning.

The occupation of KImburn Peninsula by the
Russians means that naval and supply traffic
between Kherson, NIkolaiev and .Odessa must be
discontinued. In addition, It" prevents the
removal of valuable equipment such as docks,
cranes and ships before the freezing starts.
This will cause further shortages for supply
shipping.

The obstacles to seaborne supplies in the north-
western Black Sea brought about by this situation
were pointed out to Army G-roup A, Naval Group
South, 17th. Army H.Q. and 4th Air Force in A.S.M.
Gkdos. 8025 A I, Admiral, Black Sea stated that
in his opinion it was absolutely necessary to
rooccupy F.imburn Peninsula, and proposed that a
quick landing should be made near Prognoysk, to
mop up the area in a westerly direction and at
the same time re occupy the point opposite Ochakov.

Four submarine chasers left Ak Mechet at 06 00 to
carry out anti-submarine operations In the

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Eupatoria-Tarkhankutzki area. At 1615 5 sub-
marine chasers returned to Ak Mechet from anti-
submarine patrol. Route Brown was reopened to
traffic from Sevastopol to Balaklava after being
swept for moored mines. At 1600 E-boat S 49
left Ivan Baba for Sevastopol for repairs to her
compass. She had to put in to Balaklava at
2100 because of the weather.

Commander, 1st E-Boat Flotilla received orders
to send 2 boats off Cape Utrich and 3 boats off
Cape Idokopas to operate against the enemy
shipping off the Caucasus coast on the night of
5/6 December, Boats are permitted to use
torpedoes against worthwhile targets.

All boats should leave Ivan Baba In closed
formation at 1430, The first 2 boats should
start return passage at 0300, the group of 3 at
0200. Boats are free to attack submarines,
1st Air Corps was requested to send the
Lichtenstein reconnaissance plane to cooperate
with E-boats from 1900 to 0200 in the Tuapse-
Anapa area.

The boats put out from Ivan Baba according to
plan at 1430, The boats arrived in position
at 1810 and the group of 3 at 1925, The
commander of the force reported that the boats
put about at 2100 because of the weather (S3W
winds, force 4-5, sea 4, high swell from the
southwest) and ro-cntcrod Ivan Baba at 0200.

U-boat Situation; '

The boats in the operational area received orders
to tune In from now on at the additional routine
call-up times on the long wave between 1100 and
1300.

With the return of U 20, II 9 is the only boat In
the operational area, U 9 is therefore to
proceed through the operational area under cover
of the coast, making the most of all opportunities
to attack in the area south of Tuapse, which Is
the only point of convergence for all the supply
traffic from the southeastern ports.

Mi n us we oping Ac t ivity :

Two motor minesweepers (RA) continued minesweoping
in Eupatoria Bay with oropesa gear, 15-meter
pendant, covering a width of approximately 1,000
meters. No mines were swept.

Supply Traffic :

Convoys in the western Black Sea and along the
south coast of the Crimea ran as scheduled
without incident.

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Dece mb e r , 19.45

Simferopol

Enemy .SJjuatlo n :

At 2125 night reconnaissance reported 5 small
vessels on 'northwesterly course about 5 miles
south of Cape Zhelezni Rog. The reconnaissance
plane bombed and sank two of these vessels.

The E-boats operating off the Caucasus coast and
3 motor minesweepers in the patrol line south of
Eltigen were informed of the results of the
reconnaissance. No enemy shipping traffic was
observed during the day in the whole of the
Black Sea,

A coastal vessel of 500 tons was sighted on a
westerly course off the Turkish coast about 6
miles northwest of Ayanz'ik, and a passenger
vessel of 4,000 tons", course west, 8 miles north-
east of Ayanzik. Another passenger vessel of
5,000 tons was located, course east, 8 miles
northwest of Bafra Burnu.

Main Naval D/F_ S ta_tlon_ _Repo£_ts -

Two M.T.B.s were intercepted off the northern
part of the east coast of the Black Sea, No
other shipping was detected. Two more M.T.B.s
were Intercepted during the night off the
northern part of the east coast as far as Kerch
Strait. One minesweeper was operating off the
southern part of the east coast.

Submarines detected i Bearings, were taken on a
submarine operating in the northwestern Black Sea
to the west coast of the Crimea^ another sub-
marine was heard being called. According to
radio inference, 4 more submarines wore in the
operational area.

Own Situ at ion;

Wca the r f or e c a s 1 1

N winds, force 4-5, squalls up to 0, mainly
overcast, showers, visibility 6 miles, later
10 - 12 miles, sea 3, During the course of the
night the weather improved slightly,

Crimea and Kerch Strait;

a. The patrol lines had a quiet night. With the
exception of 2 E-boats, nothing was seen by
the naval ferry barges and motor minesweepers.

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Eltigen was bombarded by the naval ferry
barges with 7#5 em, guns about 0400.

All vessels returned to base.

b. One IL 2 plane was brought down by 2nd Battery,
Naval Gunnery Detachment 613. 1st Battery
suffered a direct hit and 2 guns were damaged*
The ammunition burned out. One man was killed.

c • LQ-nd Situation i

Morning: Fighting continued at the Eltigen
beachhead where the enemy was encircled*
Attempts to break through to the west were
repulsed. German and enemy patrol activity
northeast of Kerch and along the northern
front.

Evening: More ground was gained in the attack
on the Eltigen beachhead. According to an
Army forecast, the beachhead will be In our
hands on the evening of 7 December « Only
'weak enemy relief attacks In the Baksy beach-
head. All quiet on the northern front.

Despite the tremendous strain already,, the
situation at the Eltigen .beachhead demands further
effort by the few remaining forces to stop traffic
of every kind during the coming nights,

I therefore ordered the following operations for
the night of 6/7 Decembers

Commanders, 1st Landing Craft Flotilla and 3rd

Motor Minesireeper Flotilla received orders to

occupy the patrol lines in Kerch Strait as on the
previous night, that is s

a, 2 naval ferry barges off Kamlsh Burun

b, 4 naval ferry barges off Eltigen

c, 3 motor minesweepers between Chongelok and
Takil,

The naval ferry barges will not shell the Eltigen
beachhead, as only a 1,3 km, stretch is still in
enemy hands, and they might shell our own
positions by mistake.

Task and sailing orders as for yesterday. The
boats took up their positions- at dusk. At mid-
night, the naval ferry barges off Eltigen
reported that they had stopped a returning trans-
port and taken prisoners. It thus seems that
the enemy is trying to evacuate the beachhead by
sea.

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Western Black _ Sea :

Group South reported that until further notice
it would not bo possible to distribute EMC mines
and that the minefields should If possible be
changed to EMP mines. In this connection,
Group ordered that the statement of monthly
requirements, including proposed minelaying
operations, should be sent in on the 20th of
each month.

It was pointed out to Group that in view of the
changing situation in the Black Sea it was not
always possible to plan minefields so far in
advance, and also, because of the length of the
supply routes and delays In delivery, it seemed
necessary to build up a reserve of mines in the
area for operations which had to be carried out
at short notice. For this purpose, 500 moored
mines, if possible 1MB or EMC mines, and 300
explosive floats were requested.

Tugs "Sofia" and "Pontonk", lying about 500
meters off the port of Ochakov, were shelled at
about 2145 by our own artillery. Several hits
were scored on "Sofia" above the waterline.

Commander, Convoys and Escorts, Black Sea
reported that he planned to lay minefield S 76
(Eupatoria Bay) during the night of 7/8 December.

The place where ''Santa Po" was wrecked In
Eupatoria Bay was swept for moored mines. No
mines were found. Anti-submarine operations
were carried out in the Eupatoria-Tarkhankutzki
area by 4 submarine chasers.

At 0905 E-boat S 49 put in to Sevastopol for
compass repairs.

South Coast Crimea s

Five boats of 1st E-Boat Flotilla put in to Ivan
Baba at 0250 as weather conditions off the
Caucasus coast (SSW winds, force 6, sea 5) made
operations Impossible •

U-boat Situa_tion i

Tj 2 0, which had. lost fuel while returning from
the operational area, put In to Sevastopol to
take on additional supplies. Otherwise nothing
to report,

Mine_swee ping Ac t i v 1 1 y s

Motor minesweepers (RA )■ continued mincsweeping on
route Green off Eupatoria, No mines were swept.

j-;;fipential

security information -27-

CONFIDENTIAL

Pour FZ -boats carried out a check sweep of the
area where mine laying had been suspected off
Tarkhankutzki •

Two mine sweeping planes operated in the Danube
area. No mines were swept in 4 checks.

New Gun Carriers s

Lins airfield reported that gun carriers AF 53,
AF 54, AF 55 and AF 56, which are destined for
the Black Sea area, left Linz on 5 December to
proceed via the Danube*

S u_pp ly Traffic t

Several ships lost contact with their convoys in
the western Black Sea because of the weather.
However, they arrived at their destinations
without incident and without being located by
the enemy.

confidentia:

SECURITY INFORMATION -2S~

CONFIDENTIAL

December, 1943

Simferopol

Enemy Situation:

No enemy shipping was observed by night
reconnaissance over the area southeast of the
Crimea and no enemy vessels were sighted by air
reconnaissance during the day in the central and
eastern Black Sea.

The Caucasus coast was not examined. At 0940
one of the reconnaissance planes bombed and
machine-gunned an enemy submarine approximately
20 miles northwest of Eupatoria, It has not
yet been established whether the submarine was
destroyed or damaged.

Main Naval Jp^F Station" Reports i

Activity of small vessels still on a small scale
In the entire Black Sea.

Submarines detected: 3 in the northwestern
Black Sea to west and southwest of the Crimea,
3 thought to be In the operational area and 1 in
the eastern Black Sea, The submarine, which was
pursued and perhaps destroyed by submarine chaser
No, 103 on 4 December, can now only be either
"U" or "W", as they have not been heard in radio
traffic since this engagement took place*
Investigations to confirm destruction of the
submarine are In progress.

Own Sltua t i o n :
Weather forecast:

"West coast Crimea: W - SW winds, force 3, mainly
fair, visibility 15 miles, sea 1 - 2. •

Yalta - Kerch Strait: NW winds, force 4, at noon
W winds, force 4-3, cloudy, visibility 12 miles,

o r- . o O

Crimea and Kerch Strait :

a. Since the dally operations of light naval
forces have prevented enemy seaborne
reinforcements from reaching the Eltigen
beachhead since 1 November, 6th Rumanian
Cavalry Division was able to mop up the
beachhead early on 7 December,

On the night of 6/7 December,, naval ferry
barges off Eltigen sank 2 landing craft which

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were carrying troops, 2 fishing smacks, 1 barge
and 2 rafts in which the enemy was trying to
escape across the sea. Prisoners were picked
up from the water. Thus the number of vessels
sunk during the blockade of the beachhead by
our naval forces was Increased to i

3 motor gunboats,
2 M.T.B.s,
16 landing craft,
2 tugs,

2 lighters, and
7 other craft.

Eleven gunboats, 2 M.T.B.s and 6 landing craft
were damaged or set on fire.

The following German forces have been In action
in Kerch Strait since 1 November:

40 naval ferry barges,
6 motor minesweepers, and

6 E-boats .

On 35 days they carried out 368 single opera-
tions in patrol lines and prevented all enemy
seaborne supplies from getting through.

Our own losses, mainly caused by bombs, amounted
to 11 naval ferry barges destroyed, while 16
naval ferry barges, 4 motor minesweepers and
1 E-boat were damaged.

Casualties; 16 men killed, 32 missing and
74 "wounded.

It was the continuous daily operations of naval
ferry barges, motor minesweepers and E-boats
which made it possible to mop up the Eltigcn
beachhead. In view of our small reserves, had
this beachhead boon enlarged, It would have
resulted in the loss of Kerch and also of Kerch
Peninsula. in numerous encounters, these
flotillas repulsed an enemy superior in numbers
and sometimes also In armament, causing them
serious losses and preventing supplies from
getting through to the beachhead. Our own
losses were justified by the success, a success
which increases in importance through its
indirect effect on the enemy and any further
landings they may intend.

Land Situatio n i

Morning: The Eltigen beachhead Is in our
hands. Several hundred Russian soldiers broke
through to the north with the Divisional Staff
and gained a foothold in the southern sector of

SEC1 JRITY AVIPC ! JMA TION -3 0-

CONFIDENTIAL

Kerch, Counter-attacks are in progress.
German and enemy patrol activity at the Baksy
beachhead and along the northern front.

Evening: She enemy force which broke through
from the El tig-en beachhead occupied houses in
the southern sector of Kerch and MItridat
Hill. They were surrounded there by local
forces, mostly emergency units. It Is
planned to annihilate them on 8 December.
In the diversionary attacks at the northern
beachhead, the enemy successfully broke
through in various places on both sides of
the Kolonka -Kerch coastal highway, Mopping-
up operations in progress. All quiet on the
northern front.

As It was possible- that the enemy might try on
the night of 7/8 December to. evacuate or reinforce
by sea the troops which broke through to Kerch,
I considered it best to concentrate the patrol
forces in Kerch Bay In the coming night, I
therefore Issued the following orders:

a. After dusk, Commander, 1st Landing Craft
Flotilla will send 4 naval ferry barges to
the patrol line off Kerch Bay and 2 naval
ferry barges to Kamish Burun Bay. The boats
will return to Kamish Burun at dawn on

8 December,

b. Three boats of 3rd Motor Minesweeper Flotilla
will occupy the patrol line off Eltigen,

The boats vd.ll leave Theodosia at 1430 and
will commence return passage at 0400.

The situation In Kerch and the tasks of the
patrol lines for the coming night were explained
In detail to the commanders taking part in tho
operations ,

In an Army communique issued by 17th Army H.Q.
on 5 December on the reorganization of the Army,
C-in-C requested me to take over the following
tasks with tho naval forces available:

a. Protection of the oast coast and the seaward
flanks of Kerch Peninsula with a view to
detecting enemy landing attempts promptly,
attacking any such enemy forces while still
at sea and warning our coastal defenses in
the event of an enomy attack,

b. Continuation of the blockade of the Eltigen
beachhead until it has been mopped up,
(This will not be necessary as the beachhead
was captured this morning.)

c. Protection of Army seaborne supplies.

OOHFIuiiii

SECURITY INFORMATION -31-

CONFIDENTIAL

Western B la ck Sea ;

While entering the port of Ochakov at 0900 on
6 December, tugs "Kiel" and "Pawle" were shelled
by enemy batteries on Kimburn. "Kiel" received
a hit aft.

Pour submarine chasers carried out anti-submarine
operations off Tarkhankutzki.

U-boat Situation:

At 1100 U 20 arrived in" Sevastopol from offensive
patrol, -After taking on fuel, the boat will
continue to Constantsa at about 2100.

Mine sweeping Activity i

Mine sweeping was carried out by 4 FZ -boats off
Ak Mechet and 2 motor minesweepers (RA) in
Eupatoria Bay, Ho mines were swept.

Two minesweeping planes checked the Danube from
Giurgiu to 50 km. upstream, as it was suspected
that the enemy had laid aerial mines. No mines
were swept. Another minesweeping plane
operated over the Danube Delta. Two checks
wore made but no mines swept.

Supply Traffic :

Convoys in the western Black Sea and along the
south coast of the Crimea ran as scheduled
without incident.

CONFIDENTIAL

SECURITY INFORMATION -32-

CONFIDENTIAL

8 December, 1945

Simferopol

Five planes flew daylight reconnaissance over the
entire Black Sea but located no enemy shipping.

Night reconnaissance had to be canceled because
of the weather. A drifting mine was sunk north
of Cape Lukull,

A coastal vessel of 500 tons was sighted off the
Turkish coast 15 miles northeast of Cide and a
small steamer close to the shore 8 miles west of
Cide. An auxiliary sailing vessel of 300 tons
Was located, course south, about 10 miles east
of Slnope

*

Main Nay a 1_ D/F Station Reports %

One M.T.B. was intercepted off the northern part
of the east coast. One destroyer was probably
in a base on the northern Caucasus coast,
probably Ghelenjik. A minesweeper was inter-
cepted between the northern and central parts of
the east coast and an M.T.B. off the southern
part of the oast coast. In general, -activity
of small vessels was slight.

Submarines detected: 1 in the operational area,
5 more probably In this area and 3. in the eastern
Black Sea. Main Naval D/F Station, Eupatoria
still has no definite details regarding the
probable sinking of an enemy submarine on
4 December, All the submarines at sea on
•4 December have been heard transmitting with the
exception of submarine "W" . Several radiograms
were sent to her by control, but those have not
been answered up to now.

At twilignt, a few boats landed at the southern
Kerch beachhead without being seen. The naval
ferry barges had loft their positions just before-
hand in order to be able to pass Pavlovski
channel before daylight.

It is unlikely that these boats were carrying
troops, as according to Army observations the
Group which broke through from Eltigen to the
north has not been reinforced. Presumably this
landing was for the purpose of landing supplies
or evacuating troops.

CONFIDENTIAL

SECURITY INFORM! TION -33-

CONFIDENTIAL

Own Situation:

Weather forecast:

West coast Crimea: S - SW winds, force 5,
Increasing to force 6 in the afternoon, mainly
overcast, showers, visibility 10 - 12 miles,
sea 3-4.

Yalta - Kerch Strait: SW winds, force 5-4,
increasing to force 5 or 6, cloudy, showers,
visibility 10 miles, sea 5, later 4,

C ir ime a a nd Kercti Jj> t ra it :

a. The motor minesweepers stationed in patrol
line In the southern part of Kerch Strait had
an engagement with a Russian gunboat which
then made off to the east.

In this engagement, motor minesweeper R 196
sustained a hit in her fuel tank. She is
temporarily out of action. Otherwise nothing
was sighted. While homeward bound, the mine-
sweepers were machine-gunned off Cape Chauda
by 2 Russian fighters. No casualties.

In good visibility nothing was sighted by the
naval ferry barges off Kerch and Kamish Burun,

b. The port of Kamish Burun was heavily shelled
from 1230 to 1540. Only little damage was
suffered by the naval ferry barges. Two men
were seriously wounded.

c • kand Situation :

Morning: In the raopping~up of the Eltigen
beachhead, 1,562 prisoners wore taken.
Captured equipment has not yet been counted.
The enemy group which broke through to
Mitridat Hill was hemmed in and 179 prisoners
were taken In this operation. An enemy
relief attack against the outer eastern sector
of Kerch was repulsed. The main defense line
is firmly In our hands.

Lively shelling on the northern front.
Otherwise everything quiet.

Evening: The attack on the enemy group south
of Kerch on Mitridat Hill is slowly gaining
ground. Fighting continues. The enemy
tank attack on the southern flank of the
Baksy beachhead was repulsed.

Lively exchanges of gunfire on the northern
front.

Cpj FTDEKTIAL

SECURITT INFORMATION' -34-

CONFIDENTIAL

Since the enemy group which broke through from
Eltigen occupied Mitridat Hill and the coast
between the southern breakwater and the
petroleum harbor at Kerch, the present task of
the patrol lines in Kerch Strait is to stop all
enemy traffic with every means in their power •
Because of the threat to our own main defense
line if the enemy in the southern part of Kerch
is not at once annihilated, they should under no
circumstances be allowed to succeed in bringing
up reinforcements of troops and supplies or in
gaining a foothold in territory in which they
would be difficult to locate.

Laying especial emphasis on the responsible
nature of the tasks of the patrol lines In the
coming nights, as they will also have a decisive
influence on the development of the situation In
the Kerch area, Commanders, 1st Landing Craft
Flotilla and 1st S-Boat Flotilla received the
following orders i

a. Four naval ferry barges will occupy the patrol
line in Kerch Bay between Ak Burnu and the
southern, jetty,

b. Two naval ferry barges will be stationed
between Kamish Burun and Pavlovski concen-
trating their attention on Pavlovskiy

The naval ferry barges are to be in position
at 1630 and will start return passage to
Kamish Burun at 0500 at the earliest.

c. Given favorable weather, 1st E-Boat Flotilla
will send 4 boats to the patrol line between
Chongelek and Eltigen.

The naval ferry barges mentioned in paras, a, and
b, were In position in good time. The E~boats
could not put out on account of the weather.

Western Black Sea;

In order to prevent convoy traffic being brought
to a complete standstill in the Black Sea by the
increasing air attacks, Group South on the basis
of ' our report (see ASM Gkdos. 8001/43 A I and
War Diary 4% December) requested Naval High
Command, Naval Staff, Operations Division to
cancel the order prohibiting the employment of
Rumanian fighter squadrons stationed in Akkermann
and Sadki as fighter escorts at once, or to
transfer German fighter forces to this area
without delay.

On 5 December, lighter "Sambre" was washed ashore
off Klmburn in bad weather, She is a total loss.

C0iMFIDlJ2CTIAL

laCUftlTY INFORMATION -35-

CONFIDENT IA:

Anti-submarine patrol was canceled in the
Tarkhankutzki area because of the weather.

Minefield S 76 was laid off Popovka according to
plan by 2 naval ferry barges using 58 UMB mines,

U-boat Situation i

A motor minesweeper was in position CS 1 at 0500
to meet U 20 which was putting in to Constantza
from the operational area.

Mine sweeping Activity ;

Mine sweeping had to be canceled because of the
weather.

Supply Traffic :

Convoys in the western Black Sea ran without
incident.

CQKriDS.TIAL

SECURITY INFORM TICK -36-

CONFIDENTIAL

9

December^

.943

Simferopol

Enemy Situation;

Night reconnaissance was flown along the Caucasus
coast as far as Cape PItsunda and southeast of
the Crimea. No enemy shipping was located.
No enemy vessels v\rere sighted in the course of
daylight reconnaissance over the entire Black
Sea. One coastal vessel of 800 tons was sighted
in Turkish territorial waters approximately 12
miles east of Sinope making for Cape Sinope.

Main Naval d/F Station Reports ;

Two M.T.B.s were Intercepted off the northern
part of the east coast , 1 motor gunboat off the
central part and 2 more M.T.Bfs off the southern
part. The destroyer Intercepted yesterday in a
base on the northern part of the oast coast is
still there.

During the day,
the northern pa
Strait increase
In the evening,
chaser were rep
vessels of an u
marine chasers,
part of the ea
intercepted In

activity of small vessels off
rt of the oast coast to Kerch
d and continued into the evening.

2 more M.T.B.s and a submarine
orted in this area. Three small
nidentified type, probably sub-

were intercepted off the southern
t coast. One destroyer was
the southeastern Black Sea,

Submarines detected: 5 in the northwestern
Black Sea and west and southwest of the Crimea.

Two more submarines were heard, being called* A
further submarine was thought to bo In the opera'
tional area. Two submarines were operating in
the eastern and central parts of the Black Sea.

Thus, with one exception, all the submarines
which might have been the one attacked by
submarine chaser No. 103 on 4 December have sine
been located.

In spite of our barrage of firo, the enemy was
able to land from 5 boats approximately 500
motors south of Kerch under cover of darkness.

The boats could only have come from Kolon^a,
keeping close inshore where they could not be
intercepted by our boats In patrol lire on
account of the minefield in the middle of Kerch
Bay.

COMF1 DEIITIAL
SECURITY INFORM

:on

-37-

CONFIDENTIAL

Own Situation:
Weather forecast:

Western Black Sea: N winds, force 3-4, cloudy,
visibility 15 miles, fog during the night,

C r ime a a n d K er c_h S trait :

a. Pour naval ferry barges carried out a defensive
patrol in Kerch Bay last night from 1630 to
0100 and from 0530 to 0530. Nothing was
sighted. The weather - SW winds, force 6 -
forced the naval ferry barges to leave the
patrol line between 0100 and 0330, as they
were in danger of drifting into our own mine-
field. When entering Kamish Burun at about
0600, they were attacked by planes and shelled
by artillery from the shore. No casualties
were suffered. Nothing to report from the
patrol line off Kamish Burun.

b • ' La n d S i t ua t i on i

Morning: The enemy group on Mitridat Hill and
in the southern part of Kerch was hemmed in
still further. They were not annihilated
because of a strong artillery counter-attack
from the Baksy beachhead* Ground attack planes
bombarded the blockading troops on Mitridat
Hill and the town area of Kerch. The number
of prisoners taken increased to 2,294.

Isolated German and enemy patrol activity on
the northern front.

Evening: After bitter close fighting, an
important height was taken in the struggle for
Mitridat Hill. The enemy was thrown back to
the southern slope of the hill. The enemy
shelled the main defense line northeast of
Kerch. Only shelling took place on the
northern front,

5th Army Oorps reported that, after assembling the
necessary combat forces for mopping up the newly-
formed Kerch beachhead, the attack was to take
place on 11 December.

5th Army Corps requested that all light naval
forces patrol the bay to guard against enemy
landing attempts and prevent all seaborne
reinforcements from reaching the enemy until the
attack commences.

In the coming nights, naval forces will do every-
thing in their power to prevent a strengthening
of the enemy beachhead between, the petroleum

CONFIDENTIAL

SECURITY INFORMATION -39-

CONFIDENT IAL

harbor and the southern jetty. However, it must
be taken Into account that the Kerch beachhead
cannot be as effectively blockaded as the Eltigen
beachhead. The minefields in the middle of
Kerch Bay force the boats In patrol line to
operate In a certain area, from where, as
reported under "Enemy Situation", they cannot
Intercept enemy vessels making for the beachhead
from Kolonka If they keep close Inshore.

17th Army H.Q,. and 5th Army Corps were informed.
At the same time, it was mentioned that our shore
batteries provided a defense both against enemy
landing craft close inshore, especially In the
northern part of Kerch Bay as far as the port of
Kerch, and against actual landings.

The following operational orders were issued to
Commanders, 1st Landing Craft Flotilla and 3rd
Motor Minesweeper Flotilla, with special
reference to the fact that during the night of
s/9 December the enemy had landed 5 boats south
of Kerch close to the barrel factory, and further
landing operations were to be expected;

1. Commander, 1st Landing Craft Flotilla will
sends

a. 2 naval ferry barges to the patrol line in
Kerch Bay and 1 to point 10

b. 2 naval ferry barges to the patrol line off
Kami s h Burun,

The decrease In the number of patrol boats in
Kerch Bay in comparison with last night was
intended to give the naval ferry barges more
freedom of action to operate against enemy
forces, and make It possible for them to evade
the bombardment of enemy batteries in the
western part of Kerch Bay where navigation Is
restricted by our own minefields.

The naval ferry barges in Kerch Bay will shell
the enemy beachhead with 7,5 cm, guns in
accordance with an agreement "with the Army,
Last night, the exact stretch of t ho enemy-
occupied coast was marked by yellow lights at
either end. Boats will put out and return In
accordance with yesterday's operational orders.

2. '■'

Vii

Throe boats of 3rd Motor Minesweeper Flotilla
will occupy the patrol line between Chongelek
and Kamlsh, They will leave Thoodosla at
1430 and will commence: return passage at 0400.

• Commander, Naval Gunnery Detachment 613

received orders to reinforce the Kerch jetty
with all available small arms, such as light

fJ0jjnDE-KL\L

SECURITY INFORMATION -40-

CONFIDENTIAL

the

machine-guns and heavy machine-guns up to
2 cm. caliber, to combat landing craft
proceeding close inshore,

The boats mentioned in paras. 1. and 2. were in
position at the prescribed times. At 1710
2 M.T.B.s made an unsuccessful torpedo attack on
naval ferry barges off Kerch Bay. The M.T.B.s
vi/ithdrew when one of them was hit. At 2140 the
enemy commenced to shell Pavlovski channel.

Western Black Sea ■

Submarine alarm was sounded at 1005 In the naval
ferry barge formation which was proceeding from
Odessa to Ak Mechet, 12.5 miles north of
Tarkhankutzk.I. F 580 was torpedoed and her
cargo of 2 0 tons of ammunition exploded, causing
her to sink immediately. Only 1 wounded man
was rescued. P 579 outmaneuvered a second
surface runner.

Three armed fishing vessels left Sevastopol at
1130 to carry out anti-submarine operations in
Eupatorla Bay.

At 1800 submarine chasers Nos, 102 and 103 left
Sevastopol to carry out anti-submarine operations
west of Tarkhankutzki,

Commander, 30th Motor Minesweeper Flotilla
received orders to transfer 4 motor minesweepers
(RA) to Russe at once for a period in dock.
The boats must arrive there before freezing
starts .

After completien of compass repairs, E-boat S 49
left Sevastopol at 1145 for Ivan Bab a. She
arrived there at 16 00, There are now 6 E-boats
ready for operations at Ivan Baba. At 1800
4 naval ferry barges, which were put out of
action in the Kerch operations, left Theodosia
for Yalta for later transfer to Sevastopol
(dockyard overhaul),

U 20 arrived at Constantsa at 1000 from her 15th
enemy patrol (4th Black Sea operation).

Mines we e pi ; } gActlyltj :

The FZ-group carried out a check sweep in the area
suspected of mines off Tarkhankutzki . In 8
checks with towed loop gear, 1 standard mine was
swept.

The report of mine laying, which was the reason
for the check, was thus confirmed.

CONFIDENTIAL

; ECURITY INFORMATION -41-

CONFIDENTIAL

Commander, 50th Motor Minesweeper Flotilla
received orders to check the area east of the
route between points Green 37 and Green 38 with
towed loop gear, and to transfer 2 more FZ-boats
to Ak Mechet for this purpose.

1st Air Corps was requested to give support with
mine swee ping planes. This they agreed to do.

Motor minesweepers (RA) carried out exploratory
sweeps north of route Green off Eupatoria Bay,
No mines v/erc swept,

Sirpp ly Tr affi c :

Apart from the submarine attack on the Odessa-
Ak Mechet convoy, convoys in the western Black
Sea ran without incident*

CONFIDENTIAL

SECURITY INF0HMA.TI0N -42-

CONFIDENTIAL

i9_ J^£^££i. J^5.

S imfe ro£ol

Enemy S i tuati o n :

The requested night reconnaissance of the
Caucasus coast had to be canceled because of fog
over the air base* Pour planes operated on day-
light reconnaissance over the entire Black Sea,
but no enemy shipping was located.

In the morning a freighter was sighted, course
west, off the Turkish coast, approximately 5
miles north of Ayanzik. A Turkish freighter of
3,000 tons was seen, course east, north of Bafra
Burnu*

Main Naval d/f Station Reports :

Two M.T.3.3 were located at noon off the southern
part of the east coast. One submarine was
located in an unidentified position, probably in
the eastern Black Sea,

Moderate activity of small vessels in the
evening. Two M.T.B.s were intercepted In the
area off the northern part of the east coast and
Kerch Strait and 3 minesweepers off the southern
part of the oast coast.

Submarines detected: 2 In the northwestern
Black Sea to west and southwest of the Crimea,
A third was only heard being called. It Is
thought that 3 more submarines must be In the
operational area. The submarine intercepted
at noon in the eastern Black Sea is still there*

Own Situation:

Weather forecast

Variable winds, force 2 - 3, mainly overcast,
local showers, visibility 6-10 miles, patches
of fog during the night, sea 2.

Crimea and Kerch Strait:

a

After corning 'under heavy fire from the
batteries near Kolonka and those on Kossa
Chushka and Kossa Tuszla at about 2500 on
9 December, the naval ferry barges had an
engagement In the western part of Kerch Bay
and PavlovskI channel with enemy landing
craft which were attempting to get through
to the MItridat Hill beachhead."

CONFIDENTIAL

SECURITY INFORMATION -43-

CONFIDENTIAL

According; to observations made from the shore,
9 enemy boats were sunk In this action by
naval ferry barges and coastal batteries,
A direct hit on naval ferry barge F 333 put
the engine and a 7.5 cm. gun out of action.
Casualties were suffered. All the naval
ferry barges put In to Kamish Burun about
053 o".

This operation was carried out under heavy
fire from the shore batteries In Kerch Bay
using artillery and multiple rocket-firing
guns in an area seriously endangered by mine-
fields, and was of the greatest Importance in
mopping up the beachhead. It was completely
justified in the light of the success which
was gained in cooperation with the coastal
batteries ,

The enemy did not succeed in landing
reinforcements. Thus the way was made clear
for the Army to go ahead and mop up the
beachhead, which was a serious threat to the
town of Kerch and the entire Kerch Peninsula.

Motor minesweepers sighted nothing In the
southern part of Kerch Strait.

Mornings Our own attack against the enemy
group which broke through to MItridat Hill
continued to be successful after daybreak.
The MItridat heights are in our hands. The
attempts to land reinforcements last night,
under cover of heavy shellfire were smashed
by our own artillery and naval ferry barges.

A group of 300 to 4 00 partisans attacked the
village of Suya on the Simf eropol-Theodosia
road during the night of 8/9 December,
Rumanian troops mopped up the village and
regained important road communications.

Evenings The entire MItridat Hill including
Hill 91.4 has been cleared of enemy forces.
Our own attack against the southern part of
Kerch commenced at 1400 after heavy
preparatory fire and bombing with incendiaries
and oil bombs. Nothing to report from the
northern front or the Baksy beachhead.

°* Aii\_ jk^c-?iy:l^s sancc of Caucasus Ports i

On account of the lack of suitable planes in
the Crimea, reconnaissance of Caucasus ports
has been seriously neglected recently. The
Crimean situation demands advance knowledge
of enemy landing Intentions, since only then

u_ i FJ DENE ..I

" Formation -44-

CONFIDENTIAL

will it be possible to detail naval forces in
good time for suitable countermeasures .
Knowledge of landing preparations depends
however on continuous reconnaissance of all
the Caucasus ports. As only 3 reconnaissance
flights were made over the ports in the month
of October and only 1 flight in November,
there is at present no data available on the
disposition of forces and activity of the
Russian Navy and merchant fleet. The enemy
is therefore in a position to make a sudden
attack with strong forces on the Crimean
coast •

Explaining this situation, I sent a renewed
request to 4th Air Force:

a. Reconnaissance of the Caucasus ports and
coast at least every third day, if weather
c o nd i t io ns perm i t •

b. Transfer of those planes suitable for
photographic reconnaissance from Odessa to
the Crimea, as we consider Odessa to bo an
unfavorable base for reconnaissance of the
Caucasus during the winter, as the few
favorable days which occur in this season
cannot be turned to good account owing to
the prevalent fog.

Operations ordered for the night of 9/10 December:

Since the enemy forces have been still further
encircled on Mitridat Hill and are about to be
annihilated, they will either make another great
effort to bring up reinforcements in the coming
night or else try to evacuate the troops. As
on the previous night, these attempts must be
smashed at all costs. It is fully appreciated
that the task of the naval ferry barges is a
most difficult and nearly impossible one,
considering their clumsy construction in relation
to the narrow bay, the difficulties of navigation,
and the concentrated fire from the enemy batteries
at Kolonka, Kossa Chushka and Kossa Tuszla, which
will probably be far stronger in the coming night.

nevertheless, because of the urgency of wiping
out the newly-formed bridgehead as soon as
possible, this operation must be carried out
regardless of the losses to be expected*

Commanders, 1st Landing Craft Flotilla and 3rd
Motor Minesweeper Flotilla received the following
orders :

a. As soon as darkness sets in, 2 naval ferry
barges will occupy the patrol line in Kerch
Bay and 2 others the one off Kamish Burun.

COMFIDjLL'TLU.

SECURITY IMPORTATION -45-

CONFIDENTIAL

The boats will return to Kamish Burun at dawn.

b. Three motor minesweepers will be stationed In
the southern part of Kerch Strait, concen-
trating on Eltigen. The boats will leave
Thoodosia at 1430 and will commence return
passage at 0400.

The flotilla commanders were especially advised
of the significance and Importance of the task. .

The boats were in position in good time. At
2000 the naval ferry barges reported that they
were being shelled off Pavlovski channel by enemy
c oa s t a 1 batteries.

Western B la c k _ Sea :

Anti- submarine operations off Tarkhankutzki were
carried out by 5 armed fishing vessels and 2
submarine chasers (naval transports ) • No mines
were swept. One inertia contact mine was
exploded by submarine chaser No. 103 approxi-
mately 17 miles west of Ak Mechet.

On the basis of the weather forecast, I believe
that the long proposed offensive operation by 1st
E-Boat Flotilla against enemy supply traffic off
the Caucasus coast, should be possible in the
coming night. Since 1 November, the E-boats
have had to remain on defensive operations in
Kerch Strait, as the most important task at the
time was the defense of the Crimean fortress.
It is most necessary that our E-boats should
make an appearance off the Caucasus coast to
harass enemy traffic proceeding to the north-
western Caucasus ports, unsettle the enemy In
that area and tie down light enemy naval forces
which would otherwise be available for offensive
operations .

Commander, 1st E-Boat Flotilla received the
following orders t

On the night of lo/ll December, 1st E-Boat
Flotilla will carry out the operation (scheduled
for the night of 5 December but canceled because
of weather) against enemy shipping off Cape
Utrlch and Cape Idokopas, Operational orders
for 5 December with 2 groups of 3 boats each.
times remain unchanged.

Th(

1st Air Corps was requested to send the
Liechtenstein reconnaissance plane to the area
between Tuapse and Anapa from 1900 to 0200 to
cooperate with the E-boats.

COKFir^NTLAI

SECURITY INF0HMATI0N -46-

CONFIDENTIAL

U-boat Sit uatiou :

U 23 has been lying ready for operations at
Constantsa since 9 December waiting for a spare
part for her hydrophone set from Germany*
Arrival has been delayed because of bomb damage
to the delivering firm.

Mi ne sjy e_e pi ng_ Activity;

FZ -boats carried out a check sweep for standard
mines off Tarkhankutzki. No mines were swept.

Supply Traffic :

Convoys in the western Black Sea and off the
Crimean coast ran as scheduled without incident.

CONFIDENTIAL

^■lMKjM2I^I12E -47-

CONFIDENTIAL

11 December, 1945

Ste^ropol

Enemy i S 1 tuatlon :

No enemy vessels were sighted during night
reconnaissance of the area southeast of the
Crimea and south of Kerch Strait.

Three planes flew daylight reconnaissance over
the entire Black Seaj no enemy shipping was
located. The following shipping was observed
in Turkish territorial waters: 1 freighter of
1,500 tons, course west, 12 miles northwest of
Ayanzikj 1 coastal vessel of 500 tons, course
west, 10 miles northeast of Ayanzikj 1 Turkish
passenger vessel of 4,000 tons, course east, off
Bafra Burnuj 1 Turkish freighter of 5,000 tons,
course east, approximately 20 miles west of
Amasraj 1 Turkish freighter of 1,500 tons,
course west, about 5 miles north of Amasra.

Main Naval d/f Station Reports ;

During the day activity of small vessels off the
east coast increased, continued until evening
and slackened off during the night.

According to the noon report, 4 K.T.B.s, 2 motor
gunboats and an unidentified small vessel were
intercepted between the northern and central
parts of the east coast and 2 minesweepers off
the southern part. A submarine was intercepted
off the central part of the east coast, course
we s t no r thwe s t •

in the evening 5 more H.T.B.s and a submarine
wore intercepted In the submarine operational
area off the southern part of the east coast.
One gunboat and 1 M.T.B. were intercepted
between the northern and central parts of the
east coast.

Submarines detected: 5 in the northwestern
Black Sea to west and southwest of the Crimea.
Another submarine was heard being called. In
addition to these, 2 more submarines were
thought to be in the operational area. One
submarine was located off the central part of the
east coast to the central Black Sea and one In
the eastern Black Sea, Thus a total of 8 sub-
marines was intercepted.

SECUIffTI INFORMATION -48-

CONFIDENTIAL

Own Situation

Weather forecast:

NE - E winds, force 3 - 4, off the west coast up
to force 5, cloudy, visibility after the fog
clears 12 miles, sea 2-3.

.^rArcc_a_ ja_nci_ Ke r ch__S_t r a it s

a. Last night from 17 00 to 0530, 2 naval ferry
barges were in patrol line off Kerch Bay and

■2 off Kamish Burun, Throughout the night
they were heavily shelled by enemy artillery
and multiple rocket-firing guns. They also
had several bombing attacks. The boats
suffered only slight damage and no casualties.
At about 0130 approximately, 20 landing craft
and 4 motor gunboats were seen heading for
Kolonka -Kerch and were shelled by the coastal
batteries. It was not possible for our
naval ferry barges to interfere as their guns
would have been trained on our own coast.

Coastal defense guns sank 8 small and 4 large
boats from the enemy formation. The
remaining beats withdrew.

The motor minesweepers in the southern part of
Kerch Strait sighted nothing* While homeward
bound off Gape Chauda, 2 enemy fighters were
fought off with 5.7 cm. guns. At 0910 bombs
were dropped on Kamish Burun. A direct hit
was scored on naval ferry barge P 559, causing
serious damage,

b. Land Situation:

Morning: The Mitridat Kill beachhead is In

our hands

3 00 prisoners were taken,

German and enemy patrol activity along the
northern front. Nothing to report from the
Baksy beachhead,

Evening; Nothing to report from the northern
front or the Baksy beachhead.

After ^mopping up the newly-formed enemy beach-
head in the southern part of Kerch Peninsula, I
sent the following message to 17th Army H,Q, :

After the mopping-up of the Eltigen and southern
Kerch beachheads, it was reported that the
recaptured coast is once more firmly in our
hands, I am therefore going to discontinue
patrol duty by light naval forces during dark-
ness. They have operated since 1 November,
stopping enemy supplies in Kerch Strait.

CONFIDENTIAL
SECURITY INFORMATION

-49-

CONFIDENTIAL

Commander, 3rd Motor Minesweeper Flotilla
received the following operational order for the
coming night after being advised of the reasons
for the occasional reconnaissance thrusts:

a. Three motor minesweepers will occupy the
patrol line between Chongelek and Kamish Burun
on the night of ll/l2 December,

b. The boats will leave Theodosia at 1500 and
will pass Takil homeward bound at 0500.

c. If contact Is made with the enemy, a report is
to be sent immediately. No other German
forces will bo in Kerch Strait in the coming
night, The boats left Theodosia at 1515 for
the patrol line in Kerch Strait,

Wo stern B_la ck Sea :

During the forenoon Pervomeisk was heavily
shelled from Kimburn. Naval gunnery lighter
No, 4 was damaged by splinters in the port bow,
is shipping water and is being kept afloat with
the aid of pumps, Rumanian ground attack planes
dropped bombs on Kimburn, The town of Ochakov
was shelled between 1300 and 1400, Kimburn was
later heavily shelled by the Germans and
Rumanians, At 0950 submarine chasers Nos , 102
and 103 attacked an enemy submarine with depth
charges off Tarkhankutzki in air grid square
2656, No result has been reported.

Three other submarine chasers (armed fishing
vessels) were engaged on anti-submarine patrol In
the waters off Eupatoria,

At 1115 submarine chaser No, 105 reported that a
Ju 87 had crashed off Tarkhankutzki, At 1130
submarine chasers Nos, 102 and 103 put in to Ak
Mechet to land the rescued crew and left again
at 1500 for anti-submarine patrol. At 1650
submarine chaser No, 105 reported that the
submarine operations carried out this morning
5 miles west of Tarkhankutzki must have been
inspired by a faulty location or a mistaken
reading of the search gear, as 50 depth charges
were dropped without result.

CONFIDENTIAL

GSCURITI IHTOEMA.Ti0N -50-

CONFIDENTIAL

At 0455 4 naval ferry barges put In to Sevastopol
from Yalta for repairs after operations in Kerch
Strait. Four damaged naval ferry barges left
Kami ah Burun at 1G00 for Theodosia.

The results of the operation carried out by 1st
E-Boat Flotilla yesterday against enemy shipping
were as follows :

a. One group was in position off Cape Idokopas
at 1720. Bright full moon, visibility about
8 miles. No traffic. Returned at 2230,
NNW winds, force 5 - 6, sea 4.

b. The other group was in position off Cape
Utrlch at 1825, No traffic was sighted in
continuous good visibility. This operation
was also broken off at 0100 as weather
conditions became worse,

U-b o at SI t uaj^ion ;

The following radiogram was received from U 9,
in the operational area:

"Will commence return passage on 13 December at
the latest. Lubricating oil 400 liters, 9 cbm,
fuel, 5 torpedoes, no traffic,"

On account of a shortage of U-boats U 9 will
have to stay a few days longer in the operational
area. The boat therefore received orders to
report the latest possible date of " return, if
she were to take in supplies and fuel at
Theodosia,

Mines we eping Ac t ivity :

FZ~boats carried out a check sweep off
Tarkhankutzki, No mines were swept.

Supply Traffic :

Convoy traffic was canceled today In the western
Black Sea and along the south coast of the
Crimea because of the weather.

COIIFIDERTLX

SECURITY INFORMATION -51-

CONFIDENTIAL

12 December, 1945

Simferopol

Enemy Situation:

No night reconnaissance because of the weather.
No enemy vessels were sighted in the course of
daylight reconnaissance over the central and
eastern Black Sea*

Results of reconnaissance of the ports were as
follows :

Taman (aerial photograph, partly obscured by
cloud )i 5 M.T.B.s and 6 pontoon ferries.

Gluchoi channel (aerial photograph, partly
obscured by cloud): 1 large motor gunboat,
12 pontoon ferries and 10 boats.

Ma 1 jn_ Naval _ | P/F St a tion Reports ;

Pour M.T.B.s were intercepted at noon off the
northern part of the east coast to Kerch Strait
and 1 motor gunboat in the Sea of Azov.

A submarine was intercepted in an unidentified
position in the central or eastern Black Sea.
Slight activity of small vessels continued in
the evening and during the night. Another
M.T.B, was intercepted between the central and
the northern parts of the east coast and 2 motor
gunboats were detected off the northern part.

In the northwestern Black Sea as far as west and
southwest of the Crimea, an unidentified sub-
marine and submarine "W" were only heard being
called. Four more submarines are still thought
to be in the operational area. One submarine
is in the northeastern Black Sea, most probably
off Kerch Peninsula,

As far as can be judged at present, submarine
"W" was destroyed In the anti-submarine opera-
tions carried out on 4 December by submarine
chaser No. 105, She was located for the last
time on 3 0 November in air grid square 3675, and
has only boon heard being called twico since*

According to an agent's report, an enemy force
consisting of 1 cruiser, 2 destroyers, 2 tankers,
17 M.T.B.s and 4 submarines loft Batum on
6 December steering north, 4th Air Force was
therefore requested to make a photographic
reconnaissance of the port of Tuapse immediate].^

CONFIDENTIAL

SECNRIir INFQjjHmON -52-

CONFIDENTIAL

Own Situation;

Weather forecast;

West coast Crimea: S - NE winds, force 4-5,
sea 5.

South coast Crimea: NE winds, force 5, sea 2.
Kerch Strait: NE - E winds, force 4, sea 2 - 3.
General forecast: Cloudy, visibility 12 miles.

Crimea and Kerch Strait :

a. On the night of ll/l2 December, nothing was
sighted by the 3 motor minesweepers in Kerch
Strait which were stationed in patrol line
between Chongelek and. Kamish Burun, They
put in to Theodosia at 0500,

9th Battery, Naval Gunnery Detachment 613
shelled the enemy batteries on Cape Panaghia,

b . La n d S I tua t i on :

Morning: In annihilating the enemy group
which broke through to the southern part of
Kerch, 400 prisoners were taken, including
36 officers. All was quiet on the northern
front and the Baksy front.

■ Evening: The number of prisoners taken at
the Eltigen and Kerch beachheads amounts to
2,827, Captured were: 36 anti-tank guns,
19 heavy machine-guns, 69 light machine-guns,
41 mortars, 10 anti-tank rifles and 789
revolvers, 38 tanks, 25 anti-tank guns,
17 Infantry guns, 31 mortars and 2 anti-
aircraft guns were destroyed. Our own
losses in killed and wounded in the two
beachheads amounted to :

1,203 German officers, non-commissioned
officers and men,
952. Rumanian officers, non-commissioned
officers and men.

On the northern front lively traffic continued
on the dams across the Sivash,

Operations ordered for the night of 12/13
December :

Commander, 1st Landing Craft Flotilla and
Commander, Naval Gunnery Detachment 613 received
the f ollowing operational orders :

After mopping up the two beachheads In Kerch
Strait, It will be necessary to send out
occasional patrols at night.

CONFIDENTIAL

SECURITY INFORMATION -53-

CONFIDENTIAL

The object of such patrol lines is as follows:
The mopping-up of the enemy beachheads at
Eltigen and south Kerch was only possible
because reinforcements and material were
prevented from reaching them. The enemy knows
this. By occasional night operations of naval
ferry barges, motor minesweepers and E-boats,
the enemy must be made to believe that our own
coast is still guarded by naval forces and that
they would suffer the same defeat if they were
to attempt similar landing operations.

Orders

a. Three naval ferr;y barges will leave Kamish
Burun at 1800 and will stand on and off in
patrol line between Chongclek and Kamish
Burun until 0200. They will then return to
Kamish Burun. . Formation line ahead,
distance between the boats at least 400
meters so that they do not present a closed
targut to the enemy coastal batteries.

Task: To' attack enemy forces and prevent
landings. If the enemy is sighted send a
.message immediately.

b. Naval Gunnery Detachment 613 will hold off
enemy coastal batteries by shelling them at
once, should they fire on the naval ferry
barges .

c. No other naval forces will be operating in
Kerch Strait during the night of 12/lo
December.

Western Black Sea;

It was pointed out to Army Group A that according
to available reports, the shipping placed at
their disposal by the Navy had not been fully
utilized in the period from 1 to 10 December* ■
According to a report from Commander, Sea
Transportation, Black Sea, this was due to an
inadequate supply of goods arriving in the ports.

Army Group A was urgently requested to ensure
that sufficient supplies of goods would be on
the spot In future. Naval Group South, 17th
Army H.b,., Commander, Sea Transportation, Black
Sea and Commander, Convoys and Escorts, Black
Sea were also informed. :

The recently increasing losses In shipping as a
result of submarine attacks make it necessary
for me to define once again, for the benefit of
Commander, Convoys and Escorts, Black Sea and
all other formations In the Black Sea area, how
vessels should proceed In endangered areas.

CONFIDENTIAL

sect?]' lity * ih TOiaurcoN -54-

CONFIDENTIAL

1. At 1000 on 9 December, a submarine attacked
4 naval ferry barges with a fan~of-two
torpedoes (surface runners) off Tarkhankutzki.
One hit was scored on P 580, the second torpedo
passed 2 meters astern of F'579 as she out-
maneuvered it. The naval ferry barges were
sailing In close formation without zig-zagging.

2. Lesson: .-..../

In submarine operational areas -spread out by
day and on bright nights, but maintain a
favorable formation (e.g. hedgehog formation)*

A close formation offers a good target to a fan
of torpedoes and may lea.d to ramming If
avoiding action has to be taken.

Distance between boats at least 400 meters.
In addition to this, vigorous and Irregular
alterations of course should be made (up to
25°). The loss of time must be accepted*

3. Attention is drawn to the following:

a. The importance of the look-out. (The
look-out aboard P 579 saw the torpedo
fired and thus the boat was able to avoid
it. Presumably the tracks of the torpedo
were not seen by P 580.)

b. The need for energetic and correct
avoiding action.

c. The possibility of firing at surface
. runners with machine-guns.

Submarine chasers Nos • 102 and 103 put in to
Sevastopol at' 0200 from anti-submarine patrol.

South coast Crimea: 4 damaged naval ferry
barges entered Theodosia at 0130 from Kamlsh
Burun .

IT-boat^ Sitiiatjiqn :

In spite of the four days » delay In the
departure of U 23, caused by the non-appearance
of the multi-unit hydrophone compensator, it
was decided that the boat should still not be
ordered to put out without this listening device.

U 9 is to close this operational gap by staying
longer in position and refueling at Theodosia.
In reply to a request, she answered that she
could stay in the operational area until
16 December and that she would take on fuel in
Theodosia on 17 December.

CONFIDENTIAL

3ECURITT INFORMATION -55-

CONFIDENTIAL

The following boats are due to be at readiness:

IJ 19 on 22 December, U 20 on 28 December, U 84
on 4 January, 1944 (after thorough overhaul at
C-alatz), U IS approximately 25 January, 1944 in
Galatz (after thorough overhaul and repair of
damage caused by depth charges),

Mill? sweeping; Activity °,

Minesweeping had to be canceled because of the
weather.

o

upply Traffic :

Convoys were again postponed in the western
Black Sea because of the weather.

CONFIDENTIAL

SECURITY INFORMATION -56-

CONFIDENTIAL

13 Dec emb o r , 1943

Simferopol

Enemy Situations

Night reconnaissance was again canceled, because
of the weather. Reconnaissance was flown
during the day over the central and eastern
Black Sea but no enemy vessels were sighted,

A Turkish freighter of 4,000 tons, course west,
was sighted approximately 12 miles northeast of
Bafra Burnu, and a steamer of 5,000 tons, course
southeast, G miles north of Bafra Burnu #

Main Naval p/P Station Rgjoorts :

At noon 1 M.T.B, and 1 motor gunboat were
intercepted between the northern and central
parts of the east coast and 2 M.T.B.s and a
minesweeper off the southern part. According
to the evening report, activity of small vessels
was generally slight. Two further M.T.B.s were
intercepted In the evening between the northern
and central parts of the east coast and a mine-
sweeper off the soxithern part.

Submarines detected: 2 in the northwestern
Black Sea. to southwest of the Crimea. The
submarine intercepted yesterday off Kerch
Peninsula was approximately 55 miles southwest
of Sevastopol in the evening. Three further
submarines are thought to be in the operational
area. One submarine was intercepted In an
unidentified position, pjr'obably at sea in the
operational area.

Own Situation;

Weather forecast:

NE winds, force 4, cloudy, visibility 15 miles,
sea 2-3.

Crimea -and Kerch Strait i

a. Last night 3 • naval ferry barges were stationed
in patrol lino In Kerch Strait between Chongelok
and Kamish Burun, " Nothing to report,

b. La n d 5 i t u a 1 1 o n :

Morning: No fighting took place during the
night of 12/13 December, So far enemy losses
on Mitrldat Hill and in the southern part of
Kerch have amounted to 1,110 killed, 819 taken
prisoner, 7 20 revolvers, 6 0 machine-guns,

CONFIDENTIAL

SECURITY "i:m)RI'ATI0N ~57~

CONFIDENTIAL

37 mortars and 18 anti-tank rifles were
captured. Judging by the casualties and the
number of prisoners taken, the newly-formed
Kerch beachhead was much larger than was at
first expected. It is possible that it was
strengthened by partisans.

Evening: No fighting on the northern front
apart from slight shelling by both sides.

Slight shelling and air activity in the Baksy
beachhead.

No operations are planned for the coming night in
Kerch Strait, but 3 naval ferry barges will be at
an hour's readiness at Kamish Burun from 17 00
until daybreak, in case of emergency.

Western Black Sea :

Naval Group South reported that in response to
the request from 4th Air Force the Rumanians have
again placed fighter escort at the disposal of
our convoys. Group also reported that, owing to
the more critical- situation at Army Group South,
no extra fighters could be spared for convoy
protection from our own resources.

At our request, 1st Air Corps has received
standing orders to attack the air base at
Skadovsk, which Is used as a base for bomber and
torpedo planes operating against our convoys •
No attacks have been possible in the last few
days because of the weather. Attacks will only
bo made during the night because of the strong
enemy fighter defenses,

4th Air Force reported that, in compliance with
our request , the Caucasus ports will in future be
reconnoitered every second day, weather
permitting. Our suggestion that the planes In
question should be transferred from Odessa to the
Crimea Is not practicable on account of supply
difficulties-.

According to a report from Naval Port Commander,
Nikolaiev, 4 Rumanian bombers attacked Kimburn
during the forenoon and enemy artillery shelled
the town and port of Oohakov, German mortars
shelled Kimburn in tho afternoon. The enemy
again shelled tho town and port of Ocbakov.
Slight damage to buildings. No military damage
or casualties.

According to bhc experiences of the last few days,
It Is presumed that the main operational area of
enemy submarines is still the Tarkhankutzki-
Eupatoria Bay area. In the present easterly

COKFIDMTIAL

SEGlgaTY . n?F01SjATI0N -53-

CONFIDENTIAL

gales it Is to be expected that the boats would
prefer the more protected Eupatpria Bay, They
must be systematically hunted and destroyed In
order to prevent further losses of ships, which
are irreplaceable for supplying the Crimea,

Commander, 1st Submarine Chaser Flotilla was
informed of this and received the following
orders s Submarine chasers Nos , 101 and 102 to
leave Sevastopol at 1400 on 13 December on anti-
submarine patrol in air grid squares 2660, 2680
and 3670, They will not return until ordered
to do so by Admiral, Black Sea, Breakdowns,
casualties etc, will be reported by Most
Immediate signal. Wait for the order to return.

Commander, Convoys and Escorts, Crimean Coast
received instructions to inform the convoys about
the activity of the submarine chasers and the
submarine chasers of convoys due to pass.

The boats left Sevastopol at 1510 for anti-
submarine patrol in the prescribed area*

On the afternoon of 12 December, No, 1 hatch of
steamer "Lola" caught fire while lying in
Sevastopol, The fire was extinguished by
flooding the hold. No important damage was
done. The cause was not discovered, probably
c a r e 1 e s s s m ok I ng ,

At 2040 5 motor minesweepers left Theodosia for
Sevastopol for mine sweeping operations.
Commander, 3rd. Motor Minesweeper Flotilla
received orders to fit the boats out at once for
mine swee ping duties on reaching Sevastopol,
Minesweening orders to follow.

U-b oa t Situation :

In order to avoid further delay in the departure
of U 23 through the non-arrival of the compensator
for the multi-unit hydrophone, the U-boat base
received orders to install the compensator from
U 20, The boat will then at least be able to
receive sound transmissions. Noise locations
(determination of direction) will not be possible
as the compensator and the brush-plate are tuned
for operation aboard U 20.

U 9 received permission to attack all vessels in
the operational Novorossisk-Tuapse area, concen-
trating in the area north and south of Tuapse,
and orders to return to Theodosia on 16 December
to refuel.

CONFIDENTIAL

2TY INF03M&TE0N -59-

CONFIDENTIAL

Mine sweeping- Activity i

FZ 5 and FZ 8. carried out a check sweep for
standard mines wost of Tarkhankutzki, No mines
were swept*

Two FZ-boats carried out check sweeps for moored
mines 'off Ak Mechet harbor entrance. Report
has not yet boon received.

One standard mine was swept by a minesweeping
plane approximately 150 meters west of the
lighthouse on Tarkhankutzki,

In contrast to other checks requested up to now,
1st Air P'orce was requested to have the area up
to the 25-meter line checked by minesweeping
planes.

Supply Traffic ;

Convoys were again postponed because of the
weather.

CONFIDENTIAL
SECURITY INFORMATION

-60-

CONFIDENTIAL

14 De^^ber^JL^

Simferopol

Enemy Situation :

Nothing was sighted by night reconnaissance
except our own vessels. Reconnaissance flown
during the day over the central and eastern
Black Sea sighted no enemy vessels. A Turkish
freighter of 4, 000 tons "was seen on a north-
westerly course off the Turkish coast, 8 miles
northeast of Ayanzik, .

Main Naval P/F^Station Reports :

One M.T.B, was intercepted at noon between the
northern and central parts of the east coast
and 2 motor launches wore detected in the Sea
of Azov.

Only very slight activity of small vessels in
the evening off the oast coast. Two mine-
sweepers and 1 M.T.B. wore located off the
southern part.

According to a radio intercept report, the
convoy proceeding from Constantza to Sevastopol
was located at 1720 by a submarine 55 miles
southeast of St. George which passed this
information to all submarines in the operational
area.

Submarines detected; 2 in the northwestern Black
S,ea to west and southwest of the Crimea, one of
which was approaching from an easterly direction*
Four more submarines were thought to be in the
operational area. One submarine, homeward
bound, was located in the afternoon approximately
60 miles south of Yalta,

Submarine "W", which had been regarded as lost
since 4 December, was again called in radio
traffic. Today different stations tried to
. reach her with the same radiogram which had
already been sent on the previous days. Her
destruction, which was believed likely after the
combat report, is now assumed to be confirmed on
the basis of the radio monitoring reports.

Own Situation? '

Weather forecast:

Light winds, mainly N, generally overcast,
visibility 12 miles, sea 2,

CONFIDENTIAL

CNF0RMATE0N -61-

JLI

CONFIDENTIAL

Crimea and Kerch S trait ;

a. No activity in Kerch Strait. The 3 naval
ferry barges which were at one hourTs readi-
ness in Kamish Burun last night had nothing
to report. .

The port and harbor areas of Kamish Burun were
shelled during the day. No damage or
casualties.

The danger to naval ferry barges at Karnish
Burun in air raids and during shelling is not
now so great, as the remaining 3 vessels can
be berthed at greater distances apart.

k» Land Sj/fauatjon :

Increasing artillery and air activity and
lively enemy movements on the Perekop front.
Otherwise nothing to report.

Operations ordered for the night of 14/15
December ;

Commanders, 1st Landing Graft Flotilla and Naval
Gunnery Detachment 615 received the following
orders ;

a. In the coming night 3 naval ferry barges will
repeat the reconnaissance thrust in Kerch
Strait between Chongelek and Kamish Burun,
leaving Kamish Burun at 1600 and commencing
return passage at midnight.

. Task; To prevent enemy landings. If contact
is made with the enemy, a Most Immediate
signal should bo sent immediately,

b. If the naval ferry barges arc shelled by enemy
coastal batteries, Naval Gunnery Detachment

. 613 will- assist the boats by paralysing the
c ncmy batteries.

The naval ferry barges left Kamish Burun at 1550
to take up their proscribed positions.

Western Black Sea;

In ASM Gkdos, 8229 A I dated 15 December, it was
suggested to Group South that a Coastal Defense
Flotilla, Black Sea should be formed. It is
felt here that a change in the organization Is
necessary because of the Increasing convoy and
escort tasks In the Black Sea, the shifting of
the main body of sea transport to bhe western
Black Sea and the need to cooperate with
Rumanian naval forces, giving them full confidence,
yet making allowances for the Rumanian mentality.

i\JI

SJTI.AJ

SECURITY INFORMATION -62-

o

CONFIDENTIAI

LLl

As no reply has yet been received from Army
Group A regarding a possible re -occupation of
Kimburn Peninsula, a fresh inquiry was sent
asking if and when such an operation could be
expected.

Some statement is required, so that arrangements
can be made for the necessary movement of
transports before the river Bug and the Dnieper
estuary freeze.

According to a report from Naval Port Commander,
Nikolaiev, enemy fighters attacked lighters
lying in Ochakov roads and harbor at 0750*
Slight damage. Enemy artillery shelled the
town and harbor of Ochakov. Rumanian fighters
attacked Kimburn. No losses. Anti-submarine
operations were carried out in the Eupatoria-
Tarkhankutzki area by submarine chasers Nos » 101
and 102, and south of Gape .Sarich by "Rosita",
Nothing to report.

Up to now, nearly all our Cons tantza-Sevastopol
steamer convoys have had to take the route
through Eupatoria Bay, as the direct southern
route through the Russian danger area was blocked.
Enemy submarines have therefore concentrated in
the Tarkhankutzki-Eupatoria area and forced us
to route all oivr convo^rs via SS 1 and Cape Sarich,
It will therefore be necessary to make an
approach route direct to Sevastopol from the
southwest.

Commander, 3rd Motor Minesweeper Flotilla
therefore received the following orders:

a. The area between the connecting lines

44° 36.5' N, 33° 18.5' E,
44° 31. 0* N, 33° 21.5 1 E,
44° 24.0? N, 35° 15.5' E
and 44° 30.0' N, 33° 10.0' E
should be swept up to the 150-meter line with
oropesa guar, 15-meter pendant, while the area
outside the 150-meter line should be checked*

b. This operation should be carried out by 5
boats of the Crimea group,

o. Commence operations on 15 December and, if
weather permits, daily from sunrise to sunset,

d. Report daily after entering port the stage of
work reached and the da7/'s events.

Commander, 1st E-Boat Flotilla received orders
to repeat the operation against enemy traffic off
Capo Utrich and Capo Idokopas with two groups of
3 boats on the night of 14/15 December in

CONFIDENTIAL

SrXOTffTfT^ORMTlON -63-

CONFIDENTIAL

accordance with previous' orders.

1st E-Boat Flotilla has been informed that one
of our U-boats is off the northern entrance to
Tuapse and that the E-boats should not cross
south of the latitude 44° 15' N, Anti-submarine
activity is permitted north of 44° 15* N.

1st Air Corps was asked to detail night fighters
for the operation. The boats left at 1430*

U-boat Situation :

At 22 00 on 14 December, the U-boat base reported
U 23 ready to sail, {Temporary hydrophones
were installed without D/F gear,)

U 9 was ordered to be off Theodosia at 06 00 on
16 December to refuel. Both boats are to leave
Tuapse on 17 December for joint operations in
the south, U 23 left Constantsa' at 2200
according to plan with the normal equipment.
Boat proceeding via northern route,

Mineswe eping Activity j

Minesweeping was carried out off Tarkhankutzki
by minesweeping. planes, while FZ-boats made a
check for standard mines in the same area.
No mine 3 were swept.

Supply Traffic s

At 1440 4 planes attacked the "Kassa", "Bachus"
and "Ossag" convoy on passage from Constantza to
Sevastopol, No damage. One plane was brought
down.

Convoy traffic was resumed in the western Black
Sea and off the south coast of the Crimea when
the weather improved. Nothing to report.

UoAi1 J-iv.i i : J. J.J 1.1 i

SECUrJTY INFORMATION -64-

CONFIDENTIAL

15_ Deo em bar, 1945

Simferopol

Enemy Situation :

No enemy vessels were sighted by night
reconnaissance off the Caucasus coast or in
Crimean inshore waters. Daylight reconn-
aissance was flown over the central and eastern
Black Sea and over the southern part of the Sea
of Azov, No enemy vessels were sighted*

At 0853 an enemy reconnaissance plane, on which
a bearing of 174° was taken by Main Naval d/F
Station., located the "Kassa", "Ossag" and "Bachus"
convoy which was proceeding from Constantza to
Sevastopol, and transmitted its position to
ground bases and to torpedo planes which had
already taken off*

Main Naval p/p S ta ti o_ n_ Rep or t s :

Two M.T.B,s were intercepted off the southern
part of the east coast, as well as another M.T.B.
and several unidentified small vessels in unknown
positions. In the evening no activity of large
surface forces was intercepted, with the
exception of 2 minesweepers in the eastern and
an M.T.B, in the northeastern Black Sea.

Submarines detected: 2 In the northwestern
Black Sea. Another submarine was located in an
area approximately 55 miles west to southwest of
Sevastopol. Three further submarines are
thought to be in the operational area.

Own Situation:

We a ther forecast:

NW - N winds, force 4-5, temporarily 6, mainly
overcast, snow and rain showers, visibility 4-6
miles, sea 3 - 4,

Crimea ...and i Kerch_ Strai t :

a. Nothing was sighted by the naval ferry barges
In patrol line in Kerch Strait during the
night of 14/15 December with the exception of
lively searchlight activity from Kolonka and
Tuszla, The naval ferry barges which ran
aground at the northern point of Kossa Tuszla
were fired on by Russian artillery,

A heavy explosion occurred with a bright
darting flame and subsequent clouds of smoke*

CONFIDENTIAL

SECURITY "EtEqHMATION -65-

CONFIDENTIAL

k * li&JP-A Situation •

Morning: Nothing to report.

Evening: Lively exchanges of gunfire along
the main defense line, mainly concentrated on
the Perekop front. Lively ferry traffic in
the Sivash. Only slight exchanges of gun-
fire at the Baksy beachhead.

c. For report of ammunition used by the naval
formations participating in the battle for
the Eltigen beachhead during the period
29 October to 7 December 1943, see Appendix.

No operations were planned in Kerch Strait for
the night of 15/16 December, •. but Commander, 1st
Landing Craft Flotilla received orders to have
3 naval ferry barges at 1 hour's readiness in
Kamish Bur un from 1700 to 0300, Orders as for
the night of 13/14 December.

Western -Black Sea ;

According to a Rumanian report., the island of
Fidonisi was shelled at 0430 by 2 unidentified
planes. No further details are known*
Nothing was sighted in the Black Sea by air
reconnaissance on 14 and 15 December. Radio
monitoring did not detect any large vessels at
sea. Reconnaissance Commander, West ordered
reconnaissance of the Constantsa— Sevastopol area.

The strong enemy air activity over the north-
western Black Sea forces us to send the towed
convoys out between Odessa and Sevastopol only
during darkness. Convoys will therefore put in
to Ak Mechot during the day as an intermediate
port. As Ak Mechet is frequently used as a port
of refuge during the winter months-, an increasing
number of boats must be reckoned with in the bay.
The bay offers no natural protection to ships at
anchor against torpedo attacks from submarines
to seaward. It is therefore necessary to
protect these anchorages in the bay with anti-
torpedo nets.

Net Barrage Flotilla, Black Sea received the
following orders s

1. To lay a not barrage in the bay of Ak Mechet
as soon as possible. The nets intended for
Eupatoria should be used for this purpose,

( Report to Sevastopol when ready to load. A
' naval ferry barge will bo provided for
transportation.

2. After completion of the task at Ak Mechet, a
net barrage should be laid at Eupatoria.

SECURITY INFORMATION -66-

CONFIDENTIAL

At 2010 on 14 December, harbor defense boat
RS 05 sank in heavy seas 20 miles northwest of
Ak Meehet. One man is missing.

Submarine chasers Nos . 101 and 102 carried out
anti-submarine operations in Eupatoria Bay.
At 0156 a heavy explosion occurred as a depth
charge was dropped by submarine chaser No. 102.
There was a steady, bright blaze of oil on the
surface of the water and the submarine chaser
disappeared. Submarine chaser No. 101 was at
the place where the explosion occurred at 0555
and reported a great deal of wreckage there.
The cause of the loss of the submarine chaser
is not known.

The accident might possibly have been caused by;

a. Explosion of the ammunition cargo and fire in
the gasoline cargo in the wreck "Santa Fe",

on which the depth charge might by chance have
dropped. A burning patch of oil lasting 3
hours refutes this conclusion, as "Santa Fe"
had only a part-cargo of gasoline in drums on
board, which would not have caused a fire
lasting as long as this.

b, A hit on an onemj submarine, causing ammunition
and torpedoes on board the submarine to explode »
The drifting oil might have caught fire
through the explosion.

In both cases, submarine chaser No, 102 would
have sprung a leak and sunk at once as a result
of the heavy explosion at such short range. No
survivors were picked up. The burning oil could
not have come from her as she had no oil on
board. Therefore it Is not likely that a torpedo
or mine was the cause.

Commander, Convoys and Escorts, Black Sea
received orders to place submarine chaser No. 106
at the disposal of Admiral, Black Sea for anti-
submarine duty off Tarkhankutzki until 22 December
to compensate for the total loss of submarine
chaser No, 102,

>IZ, •

Submarine chaser No. 105 is out of action for the
time being and No, 101 is the only submarine
chaser at 'present operational.

The Crimea group of 3rd Motor Minesweeper
Flotilla reported a suspected submarine 12 miles
north of Sevastopol at 0920. A depth charge
attack was made with no visible success. They
were ordered to keep in contact with the sub-
marine until submarine chafer No, 101 arrived to
take over.

CONFIDENTIAL

^BCUmf~IP?TORMATI0n -67-

CONFIDENTIAL

At 1630 submarine chaser No. 101 reported that
her search gear and revolving directional hydro-
phones' were out of action. She was ordered to
attempt to repair the location gear on board and
then, when submarine chaser No, 106 -arrived, to
proceed With her on anti-submarine patrol in the
prescribed area.

Last night's operation by 1st E-Boat Flotilla
against enemy shipping off the Caucasus coast
had the following results:

a. The first group sighted nothing off the coast
near Idokopas between 1945 and 2230. It was
a bright night. Return passage was started
at 2230, as the center engine of one of the
boats broke down. The boats arrived at Ivan
Baba at 0430.

b. The second group was in lurking position off
Capo Utrich from 1830 to 0300. No traffic
was sighted. The grouD out In to Ivan Baba
at 0545.

H~ k oa-^ 3 i5 uIl ^ ^ ££ *

U 23 outward bound according to plan via the
northern route. U 9 reported estimated time of
arrival at Thoodosia to take on fuel as 0600 on
16 December, The coast and the authorities
concerned were informed.

Mine sweeping Activity :

The Crimea group of 3rd Motor Minesweeper
Flotilla was engaged on mineswoeping operations
in Eupatoria Bay from 0900 to 16 00. No mines
were swept.

Convoys in the western Black Sea and off the
west coast of the Crimea ran as scheduled
without incident.

(Signed) Brinkmann.

CONFIDENTIAL

SECUIil l~f L Wii ATI0N -63-

CONFIDENTIAL

APPENDIX I

Ammunition used by naval forces participating
in the battle for the Eltigen beachhead in the period
29 October to 7 December, 1943:

a. 3rd Mot or _M,ine g we eper Flo 1 1 11a ;

13,000 rounds 5.7 cm. ammunition
34,000 rounds 2.0 cm. ammunition
15,200 rounds 7.9 cm. ammunition

140 rounds 8.6 cm. ammunition rocket

shells (wire -filled)
123 rounds 8,6 cm. ammunition rocket
high-explosive shells
64 rounds 8.6 cm. ammunition rocket
stars he lis,

b# J3 93. J-3^0^ JLs-k ai2^ S.Pd Landing Craft Flotillas ;

5,500 rounds 7.5 cm, ammunition
105,000 rounds 2.0 cm. ammunition.

c» .Wsiva-1 Gunnery Detachment 613:

1st Battery

2nd Battery:
3rd Battery:
4th Battery:

7th Battery:
9th Battery:
10th Battery:
d. Total:

1,6 00 rounds 15 cm. ammunition
3,680 rounds 2 cm. ammunition.

2,000 rounds 17 cm. ammunition
14,800 rounds 2 cm. ammunition,

2,400 rounds 15 cm. ammunition
20,6 00 rounds 2 cm. ammunition.

2,470 rounds 7.62 cm. ammunition

4,450 rounds 2,0 cm, ammunition,

1,075 rounds 7.62 cm. ammunition

40,520 rounds 2.0 cm. ammunition,

1,650 rounds 12.2 cm, ammunition
3,260 rounds 2.0 cm. ammunition,

278 rounds 7.62 cm. ammunition

6,200 rounds 2.0 cm. ammunition.

Medium guns

Light guns

Medium anti-aircraft guns

Light anti-aircraft gun:

6,000 rounds

8,973 rounds

13,000 rounds

157,000 rounds

Small arms (approximately) 150,000 rounds.

CCNFI INITIAL
SECURITY INFORMATION

-69-

CONFIDENTIAL

16 December, 1945

Simferopol

En emy Situation:

Nothing to report from night reconnaissance over
the northeastern Black Sea.

Increased daylight reconnaissance over the
central part of the western Black Sea. No
enemy forces sighted. Reconnaissance was also
flown over the central and eastern Black Sea but
again no enemy ships wore sighted.

Two small coastal vessels were detected off
Gholenjik, course southeast.

One Turkish freighter of 5,000 tons was detected
close to the Turkish coast off Bafra Burnu,
c our so no rthwe s t .

Main Naval p/p Station Reports :

In the afternoon 1 motor gunboat and 1 M.T.B*
were detected in the east coast area. Only
slight activity of small vessels off the oast
coast In the evening and at night. During the
evening, 5 minesweepers and 1 M.T.B. were
detected off the southern part of the east coast
and 1 M.T.B. off the northern part.

No bearings could bo taken on submarines because
of dummy radio procedure. There are 4 sub-
marines for certain, and probably 2 more, in the
northwestern Black Sea. The submarine which
was attacked and possibly destroyed by submarine
chaser No. 102 on the morning of 15 December vra.s
probably "0" or "P", but "E", »F" and »TJ" are
further possibilities,

A reconnaissance plane detected by the radio
intercept service over the Ak Mechet area at
0850 reported 1 tanker, 1 transport, 2 patrol
vessels and 2 Me 109. The plane probably
observed naval, transports Nos . 101 and 106 and
the two FZ-boats which are on ant I -submarine
op orations ' In this area.

Own Situation:

Weather forecast:

W - WW winds, force 4 - 5, mainly overcast, light
showers, visibility 6-8 miles, sea 2-5.

C ':KFIDEi."TiAL

'dfm^LTl INF03HA.TI0N -70-

CM FIDENTIAL

9. riraoa and Kerch _SJ:rvgjit :

a. On 15 December, Kamish Burun was shelled
several times. Minor splinter damage to
naval ferry barges.

Lively enemy ferry traffic from Chushka to
Yonikale *

b. In the forenoon, 7th Battery, Naval Gunnery
Detachment 615 sank an enemy M.T.B. which
was attempting to penetrate to Kamish Burun
harbor. During an air raid on the port of
Kamish Burun and 7th Battery, this battery
shot down one IL 2 plane.

c . Land Situation i

Morning: On the northern front enemy forces
made repeated attacks near Hill 17,6 north of
Tarkhan, but were repulsed in hard hand-to-
hand fighting. The main defense line is
still In our hands.

Nothing to report from the Baksy beachhead.

Evening; Enemy harassing fire increasing
northeast of Kerch. Ground attack planes
raided Kamish Burun.

All quiet on the northern front. During the
night of 15/16 December, the bridge across
the Sivash was damaged by bombs In 2 places.
The enemy Is working on repairs.

d. In reply to an inquiry from 4th Air Force
concerning proposals for cutting off supplies
to the Baksy bridgehead, Admiral, Black Sea
reported that most of this supply traffic
proceeded via Kossa Chushka. Only the Air
Force could interfere, as it is Impossible

for our naval forces to operate in the northern
part of 'Kerch Strait, which is only 4,000 -
5,000 motors wide and Is strongly defended by
gun batteries on both sides. Moreover, the
traffic Is not within range of our shore
batteries ,

The following proposal was made to 4th Air Force
with a view to disrupting the supply traffic i

a. Mlnclaying by planes in the northern part of
Kerch Strait. Attention is drawn to the
detailed proposals already submitted in ASM
Gkdos. 7409 A I on 10 November, 1943.-

b. Enemy loading places at Kossa Chushka, Taman
and Senaya and ships lying at those places

Gi.::FIDEl:TIAL

SECURITY INFORMATION -71-

CONFIDENTIAL

and at sea should be bombed and machine -gunned
continuously. On Kossa Chushka, e.g. near
Ilich, large new landing stages have been
constructed, and coastal vessels of up to 700
tons have been detected alongside them*

Operations for the night of 16/17 December:

1st Landing Craft Flotilla was ordered to send 3
naval ferry barges from Kamish Burun to patrol In
Kerch Strait between Chongolek and Kamish Burun
from 1700 to 2400 today*' Operational orders as
for previous night.

Western Black Sea ;

Investigations concerning the bombardment of the
island of Fidonisi revealed that It 'was not
shelled from the sea but that the island forces
opened fire on 2 unidentified boats which
'appeared out of the fog at a range of about 500
motors. They wore probably enemy submarines.

At 0245 2 naval "ferry barges carrying parts of a
railroad gun from Sevastopol to Odessa, put in to
Ak Mechet because of the weather.

On entering the harbor, naval ferry barge F 579
touched bottom and sprang a leak forward. Sho
was only able to proceed with the help of a tug.

Submarine chasers Nos. 101 and 106 were on anti-
submarine patrol in Eupatoria Bay* No results.
No. 101 reported that her coal stocks would be
exhausted by 2400 on 17 December.

In view of the need for continuous, intensified
anti-submarine patrols In the Tarkhankutzki area,
Commander, Convoys and Escorts, Black Sea was
ordered to detach at least 3 and, If possible, 4
boats from 3rd or 23rd Submarine . Chaser Flotilla
to form a submarine chaser force to be trans-
ferred to Sevastopol, This force, like tho
force already formed from 1st Submarine Chaser
Flotilla (naval transports), will bo directly
under tho command of Admiral, Black Sea for
operations *

At 1600 the damaged naval ferry barges F 137,
F 333 and F 447 sailed from Thcodosia via Yalta
.to Sevastopol for repairs.

U-boat Situation s

At 0630 TJ 9 entered Thcodosia to refuel.
Summary of her report: No traffic in the opera-
tional area south of Tuapse, where only 1 motor
gunboat and a periscope were sighted in 14 days.

JOKFlDliSTIAL

~EC'fJRIlI INRHMkTXON -72-

CONFIDENTIAL

Air patrol was slight, •

At 1700 U 9 sailed again as scheduled for a brief
operation of about 6 days. The duration of the
operation is restricted because U 9 is using up
a large quantity of lubricating oil as a result
of defects in the Diesel engine.

Changes in operations i For the past 3 weeks no
supply traffic has been detected in the area
between Pitsunda and Tuapse by U-boats, air
reconnaissance or Main Naval d/F Station* The
weather has certainly been bad and shipping has
probably been stopped for the time being. The
slight enemy air reconnaissance . indicates that the
Russians have little interest in this area at
present., Therefore from 17 December, U 9 and
U 23 will proceed southeast to new attack areas
off Poti and Batum to intercept possible local
traffic and convoys when they start up again.

Mi no swe e p 1 njg Activity ;

FZ -boats operated in the Tarkhankutzki area.
No mines swept.

Five motor minesweepers of ord Motor Mine swoe per
Flotilla began sweeping the southwestern minefield
gap. In 3 sweeps, no mines were found.

No mine sweeping planes operated because of the
weather.

Supply Traffic i

Convoys in the northwestern Black Sea and off the
west and south coasts of the Crimea ran as
scheduled without enemy interference.

From 1 - 15 December, Crimea convoys carried
18,412 tons of supplies. That is approximately
6,600 tons less than was requested by Army Group A
for this period. Failure to reach the target
figure can be ascribed to the following factors;

1. Insufficient stream of supplies for loading,
so that the tonnage made available could not
be used to the full.

Q

The unusually bad weather which caused serious
delays.

COKJIDBTTIAL

SECURITY INFOlfrftTION -73-

CONFIDENTIAL

17 December, 1943

Simferopol

.Enemy Situation:

Last night reconnaissance had to be abandoned
early because of icing up. No enemy ships were
sighted, . No enemy shipping was observed in the
course of "daylight reconnaissance over the entire
Black Sea, There was no reconnaissance over the
Caucasus coast because of the weather.

In the Sea of Azov, reconnaissance was made of
the ports of Skadovsk and Genichesk, There
appeared to be 3 boats in Skadovsk and there were
15 boats in Genichesk,

Main Naval D/P Station, Eupatoria reported slight
activity of small vessels generally.

At noon 1 destroyer sailed from the northern part
of the east coast, presumably heading southeast.
One minesweeper and 1 M.T.B. were detected off
the southern part.

In the submarine operational area, no bearings
could be taken because enemy radio traffic was
carried on only under collective calls igns in
dummy procedure. Individual calls were avoided.
Six submarines are thought to bo in the opera-
tional area.

Own Situation:

Weather forecast:

NE winds, force 4, squally up to force 6, cloudy,
snow showers, visibility 15 miles, sea 3 - 4,
Towards evening N - NW winds, force 4 - 3, at
night NW, force 4, increasing cloud, visibility
10 miles, sea 3-2.

a. Last night the naval ferry barges in

reconnaissance line In Kerch Strait between
Chongelck and Kamish Burun sighted nothing
from 1700 to 2400,

k • Land Situation :

Morning: Two enemy attacks in the strength of
1 or 2 companies wore repulsed on the SIvash
front.

Nothing to report from the Baksy boachhead.

CONFIDENTIAL

SECURITY INFORMATION -74-

CONFIDENTIAL

Evening: In the infiltration at Perekop, an
enemy assault detachment was repulsed in
close combat,

The bridge across the Sivash near Russki was
damaged in two places by bombing.

Lively shelling at the Baksy beachhead.

In the coming night there will be no naval ferry
barge operations in Kerch Strait.

1st Landing Craft Flotilla was ordered to keep 3
naval ferry barges at 1 hour's readiness in
Kamish Burun from 1600 to 0400.

Western" Black Sea t

Nothing to report from the Kherson area except
lively machine-gunning and rifle and artillery
fire.'

This morning tug "Kreuzenstein" ran aground west
of Klmburn point. After refloating herself, she
anchored about 2 - 5 miles south of Ochakov,
where she was shelled from Kimburn, The enemy
battery en Klmburn was later silenced by one of
our own batteries.

Arrangements have been made to tow the tug to
Ochakov during the night of 17/13 December,
The rudder is probably damaged.

The boat which sank on 14 December about 20 miles
northwest of Ak Heche t was not harbor defense
vessel PlS 05 but a captured Russian boat which
was to bo allocated to 51st Escort Flotilla after
repairs ,

Submarine chasers Nos. 101 and 102 obtained no
locations while on patrol In Eupatoria Bay,

At 0825 No. 101 was attacked by a plane in
Eupatoria Bay, but the plane was driven off by
the ship's anti-aircraft fire. Both vessels put
in to Sevastopol at 1400 as thoir coal stocks
wore exhausted. Depth charges were dropped on
the submarine which was. detected in air grid
square 3516 at 0030 on 16 December. No results
wore observed.

South Coast Crimea:

At 0150 naval ferry barges F 137, F 353 and F 447,
which were damaged in the Kerch operations, put
in to Yalta with tug "Kehl" and 1 water lighter
on passage from Theodosia, They will take in
cargo and proceed to Sevastopol for repairs.

CONFIDENTIAL ■

SECURITY IKFOiui-fiTION -75-

CONFIDENTIAL

E-boat operations were not possible owing to the
weather.

U-boat -Situati on :

U -9 and U 23, which are In the operational area,
were today ordered to carry out an offensive
patrol to the southeast. The operation will
start at 2000.

Mine swee pi ng Ac t i v j. ty : •

Because of the weather, sweeping of the south-
western minefield gap at Sevastopol had to be
abandoned by motor minesweepers of the Crimea
group. For the same reason, the FZ-boats broke
off mine sweeping operations in the Tarkhankutzki
area. No minesweeping planes operated over the
Danube Delta.

Supply Traffic s

Convoys were seriously delayed by the weather.
All sailings planned for today in the north-
western Black Sea had to bo postponed for 24
hours .

CffiFIflEBTIAL

SECURE TI Il-.;Fi )) J '.ATI ON -76-

CONFIDENTIAL

18 December, 1945

Simferopol

En e my S 1 t ua t Ion

It was not possible to fly any night reconnaissance
because of the weather*

No shipping was observed In the course of daylight
reconnaissance over the entire Black Sea and the
western Sea of Azov. In the southern Sea of
Azov 10 boats were detected In Genichesk harbor.
A radio intercept report stated that 2 M.T.B.s
'and a motor minesweeper received the position of
an unidentified vessel given as approximately 14
miles southsouthwest of Poti.

Main Naval p/F Station Reports :

Slight activity of small vessels in the east coast
area. One M.T.B. was detected off the northern
part of the oast coast and 2 M.T.B.s and 1 motor
gunboat off the southern part.

Main Naval D/P Station obtained no bearings on
submarines. Four submarines are assumed to be in
the operational area and 2 are returning to base.

Own Situations

Weather forecast

Variable winds, mainly N, force 5-4, cloudy to
overcast, visibility 10 - 15 miles, sea

4 ~ 3

o#

Crimea and Kerch Strait:

a. The enemy battery a't Cape Panaghia (dairy farm)
shelled 1st Battery, Naval Gunnery Detachment
613. 9th Battery returned the fire and
silenced the enemy guns. Smoke was seen to
come from the battery.

On 17 December the Crtinland Detachment was
transferred to the southern sector, while 4th
Battery, Army Coastal Artillery 774 was
returned to the Gr8nla:nd Detachment from the
area of Naval Gunnery Detachment 615.

b# ■^l^--.sA1:il-a_1:r-'-pn :

Morning: Only patrol activity. Our . artillery
destroyed ten of the 36 rocket throwers in
operation northwest of Perekop. Numerous
explosions were observed.

CONFIDENTIAL

security f ;<\;:v;ation -77-

CONFIDENTIAL

Evening: 'Nothing to report,

c. 17th Army 11,0,. reported that a request had
been submitted to Army Group A for reinforce-
ments In the form of a combined operations
company and a large assault boat company to
be employed In the defense of Kerch Strait,
This would make it possible for the patrol
forces and naval ferry barges under Admiral,
Black Sea to be employed mainly for the
protection of convoy routes in the western
Black Sea, and also as transports.

Army H,Q,. thinks that naval forces will no longer
be required to defend the coast, but that it will
be necessary to have floating outposts to defend
the east coast of Kerch and the deep shore flanks
of Kerch Peninsula, They believe this measure
to be necessary if wo are to secure an efficient
warning system and a speedy concentration of
reserve troops on the coast, which Is only
occupied by small forces. The opinion of Admiral,
Black Sea on this proposal Is as follows t

Admiral, Black Sea welcomes Army H*Q,,»s plan to
use combined operations boats in the defense of
Kerch Strait with the object of releasing the
light naval forces operating there for urgent
tasks elsewhere. The boats -will only be able to
operate in the bays of Kerch and Kamish Burun,
because weather conditions and minefields in the
southern part of Kerch Strait would make It
Impossible for the boats to remain there
permanently. The same applies to tho coastal
waters south of Kerch Peninsula, (Off the north
coast, stationary patrols would be Impossible In
any case because of weather conditions and lack
of bases.) These duties will have to be the
responsibility of tho Navy, and our own strength,
the enemy situation and weather conditions will
be the determining factors in such operations,
The small number of vessels available will not
allow us to establish permanent positions off the
coasts in question. Coastal defense forces must
have efficient communications with tho look-out
system and bo fully informed of radar reports and
the results of air reconnaissance, so that it will
not bo possible for the enemy to make a surprise
landing anywhere.

Operations for the night of 18/19 December ;

1st Landing Craft Flotilla was ordered to send 3
naval ferry barges from Kamish Burun to a
reconnaissance lino In Kerch Strait between
Chongelek and Kamish Burun from 1700 to 2400 this
evening.

COiMFIDENTIA

SECURITY INFORMATION -78-

CONFIDENTIAL

Western Black Sea :

Submarine chaser No, 3.18 ran aground near Crura
Oohakov. Attempts will be made to refloat her
after the weather Improves.

In reply to an inquiry sent on 14 December, Army
Group A reported that they do not Intend to re-
occupy Kimburn Peninsula and that shore batteries
are the only means of protecting shipping In the
Dnieper estuary* Arrangements are being made
to send reinforcements. Naval Group South has
been i nf orm e d •

An agreement has been reached with the Army that
the responsibility for protecting the Dnieper
estuary, which can bo considered as a river,
will be assumed by Combined Operations pLOgiment
770. Patrol vessels of bhe regiment will cruise
along the northern side of this estuary and the
Bug estuary at night and during poor visibility
on the alert for enemy landing attempts.

Independent of those combined operations boat
patrols, ships of Naval Port Commander, Ochakov
will be in the Dnieper estuary on tho look-out
for minclaylng planes.

Tug "Kreuzcnstoin" which ran aground west of
Kimburn point on 17 December was towed In to
Ochakov by harbor defense vessel PiO 15,

Five tugs virhich are to tow a dock put In to
Nikolaicv from Odessa, This towod convoy, with
tho G, 000-ton dock and a 2, 000-ton dock inside
it, is due to sail from Nikolalov for Odessa at
0700 on 19 December,

At 183 0 E-boat S 51 sailed from Ivan Baba for an
engine overhaul In Cons tan tza.

U-boat^ Situation :

Nothing to report,

Enom^ A Ir A crb ivity :

Kherson was raided on tho evening of 17 December,
High explosives and Incendiaries were dropped.
No damage to naval property.

Mine swooping Activity;

Four boats of 3rd Motor Minesweeper Flotilla
continued sweeping the southwestern minefield
gap at Sevastopol, In 2 checks, no mines wore
swept. The operation was abandoned at 1230
because of tho weather.

confidential

security information -79-

CONFIDENTIAL

Supply Traffic :

Steamers and towed convoys in the western and
northwestern Black Sea and off the south coast
of the Crimea, which had put in to port because
of the weather, put to sea again. No enemy
interference ■

CONFIDENTIAL

CCURITY INFORMATION -30-

CONFIDENTIAL

19 December, 1943

Siniferopiol

Enemy 3 I t ua t i o n ;

i-

Night reconnaissance over the northwestern Black
Sea sighted nothing apart from our own convoys.

During the day, 11 planes carried out reconn-
aissance over the entire Black Sea in varying
visibility without detecting any enemy shipping.

Main Naval D/f Station Reports i

At noon Main Naval D/F Station reported 2 M.T.B.s
and 2 motor gunboats off the southern part of
the east coast.

The situation in the evening showed no substantial
change compared with noon. Main Naval D/F
Station detected normal activity of small vessels
off the east coast. Two minesweepers, 1 M.T.B.
and 1 motor gunboat were intercepted off the
southern part of the oast coast. One gunboat or
motorboat was detected in the Akhtari area.

Compared with past days there is no change in the
submarine situation. Four submarines are
believed to be still in the operational area.
Two submarines wore detected on return passage
about 6 0 miles off Sukhum.

An agent's report on 15 December stated that 7
gunboats, 14 landing craft and 8 tugs carrying
troops, tanks and guns are on passage from
Primorsko Akhtari to Taman Peninsula to reinforce
the troops in the northern Kerch sector.

Own Situation;

Weather forecast:

West coast Crimea; N winds, force 4-3, mainly
overcast, visibility 8-10 miles, sea 2-3.

Yalta - Keren, s N - NW winds, force 4-5,
squally, cloudy,, visibility 12 miles, sea 5 - 4.

During the evening NE winds, force 7-8 off the
entire south and cast coasts of tho Crimea.

Crimea and Ke^cJl,^trai_t i

a. Three naval ferry barges In reconnaissance lino
in Kerch Strait between Chongolek and Kamish
Burun sighted nothing*'

DSCUPtlTY INFORMATION -81-

CONFIDENTIAL

k • Land Situation :

Morning: In the northern part of Kerch
several assault detachments were repulsed.

Three more rocket throwers were destroyed by
our artillery near Perekop. Dive-bombers
again scored hits on the Russki darn and bombed
artillery and rocket thrower emplacements in
the Perekop area.

Evening: Enemy artillery and mortar fire was
slight on the northern front but had increased
on the Baksy front. Our artillery shelled
enemy movements and digging-in operations near
perekop, ■

Slight German and enemy air activity*

No operations in Kerch Strait for the coming
night. Three naval ferry barges in Kamish Burun
will be at 1 hour's readiness from 1700 until
0300.

yfetsALgj[k--^a c^ -Ae^- ■

At 0745 E-b'oat S 51 put in to Constantza for an
engine overhaul.

Up to now, attempts to refloat submarine chaser
No, 316 which ran aground near G-ura Ochakov have
been unsuccessful. It will not be possible to
continue the attempts until the weather has
improved.

At 0700 the NIkolaiev-Odessa dock convoy sailed
from NIkolaiev according to plan.

In the Kherson area there was lively artillery
and mortar fire and slight machine -gunfire and
rifle fire.

The enemy now seems to be aware of the concen-
trated anti-submarine activity which has been
going on . for some time, as enemy submarines in
the western Black Sea have been maintaining radio
silence for some days. This will make it very
difficult to plan anti-submarine . patrols In
future, as these wore based on bearings obtained
by Main Naval D/F Station.

Nevertheless I shall continue to send all
available submarine chasers to the Tarkhankutzki
area. Enemy submarines will be concentrated in
this area, whore there is a bottleneck in traffic
to and from Sevastopol, even if the enemy
realizes that our defense forces are also concen-
trated there. We must avoid scattering our few
submarine chasers, even if this means temporarily
neglecting les.s Important areas.

CONFIDENTIAL

SECURITY INFORMATION -32-

CONFIDENTIAL

Commander, 1st Submarine Chaser Flotilla was
given the following orders:

a. At 1700 on 19 December, submarine chasers
Nos. 105 and 106 will sail from Sevastopol to
carry out anti-submarine operations in air
grid" squares 2630, 2650 and 2670. If an
enemy submarine is detected by Main Naval D/F
Station or sighted by air reconnaissance in
the adjacent large grid squares, the submarine
chasers will search for the submarine reported,
provided that they are not already in pursuit
of a submarine which they themselves have
detected. Submarines must be stubbornly
attacked. A radio report should be trans-
mitted when a submarine is detected or attacked.

b. The boats will sail via route Green as far as
SN 3, then proceed in lino abreast into the
above-mentioned patrol area,

c. The boats will not return to port until they
receive orders from Admiral, Black Sea,

d. The senior commander will be in command of the
force. His boat should be reported.

At 1915 the boats sailed from Sevastopol.

Tug "Habicht" sank while shifting berth in the
south bay at Sevastopol, Salvage work is in
progress ,

TJ-b^a t Sit ua t ion ;

U-boats in the Poti operational area (IT 9 and
U 23) sighted nothing.

Enemy Air Activity :

At 0900 6 planes attacked the Odessa-Ak Mochet
towed convoy with torpedoes while it was entering
Ak Mechet, Three torpedoes were launched and
the vessels were also machine -gunned. The convoy
took evasive action and no damage was caused,

Mineswgeping Activity :

Because of the weather (NE winds, force 6), 3rd
Motor Minesweeper Flotilla had to abandon
sweeping the southwestern minefield gap at
Sevastopol,

FZ -boats swept the area off the approach channel
to Sevastopol for standard mines. In 6 checks,
no mines were swept.

CONFIDENTIAL

SECURITY INFORMATION -S3-

CONFIDENTIAL

Because of the weather, neither the PZ-boats off
Ak Mechet -nor the mine sweeping planes were able
to operate •

Most of the convoys planned for the western and
northwestern Black Sea were unable to sail
because of the weather* Nothing to report from
convoys except the aerial torpedo attack on the
Odessa-Ak Mechet towed convoy •

CONFIDENTIAL

SSCUEITY INFORMATION -84-

CONFIDENTIAL

2 0 December, 1943

Simferopol

E n e my 3 i 1; ua 1 1 o n ;

No night reconnaissance because of the weather •
No enemy ships were sighted in the course of
daylight reconnaissance over the entire Black
Sea.

One freighter of 2,000 tons, course east, was
detected off the Turkish coast about 20 miles
southeast of Sinope, and 1 passenger ship of
5,000 tons, course west, about 8 miles off Bafra
Burnu •

A radio intercept report stated that 1 destroyer
and 1 minesweeper received the position of a
vessel off Batum. The position and the time of
sighting - 41° 31' N, 41° 21' E, 1525 - were
transmitted to all naval forces, (This position
is about 10.5 miles southwest of Batum.)

Main Naval d/f ..St a.t i on. mJic]py V.^ •

Two M.T.B.s were detected off the northern part
of the cast coast and another minesweeper off the
southern part.

The minesweeper and the destroyer detected in the
southeastern Black Sea wore presumably proceeding
to Novorossisk,

Submarines detected: 1 in the northwestern Black
Sea and 3 more thought to be in the operational
area. One submarine was detected between the
eastern and central Black Sea.

Naval Shore Commander, Crimea reported that at
1355 a submarine was sighted submerging off Yalta,
course west. Distance from the shore 500 meters.
Convoys sailing off the Crimean coast have been
warned.

Own Situ; it ion i
Weather forecast;:

Western Black Sea; NE winds, force 4, towards
evening 'Veering to E or 3E, force 3-2, overcast,
light showers, visibility 6-10 miles, sea 3-2.

Cape Khersoneso - Kerch: NE winds, force 6 - 5,
during the afternoon E winds, force 5 - 4, over-
cast, light showers, visibility S - 10 miles,
sea 5-4,

COm'DEBTTIAL

: KCURITY INFORMATION -85-

CONFIDENTIAL

Crimea and Kerch Strait:

a. There were no naval ferry barge operations in
Kerch Strait last night.

k • kanci^ Situation °.

Morning: Two patrol detachments were driven
back In the Sivash beachhead. A few enemy
planes harassed our lines. Otherwise no
Incidents.

Evening: Lively enemy shelling at the Baksy
beachhead. No Infantry action.

On the northern front, an enemy attack by 2
companies carried out under cover of a smoke
screen west of Up shin was broken up by our
count or -fire.

To mislead the enemy as to the periodicity of
our patrols in Kerch Strait, there will again be
no operations during the coming night. The
naval ferry barges in Kamish Burun will be at
1 hour's readiness from 16 00 until 0400.

Western Black Sea :

Attempts to refloat submarine chaser No. 316
which ran aground off C-ura Ochakov have been
resumed and a tow lino has boon paid out to her.

At 0400 the NIkolaiov-Odcssa dock convoy entered
Odessa according to plan.

At 1445 the tugs and escort vessels again sailed
for Nikolaiev to transfer a 150-ton crane to
Odessa during the night of 22/23 December •

Submarine chasers Nos , 103 and 106 reported from
the Tarkhankutzki area that no anti-submarine
operations could be carried out in the existing
weather, The boats have been ordered to
continue operations if the weather improves.

At 1245 2 planes launched an aerial torpedo
attack on submarine chaser No. 105 about 6 miles
southeast of Tarkhankutzki. Evasive action was
taken.

Sj3uth ^C oa s t JJr imea :

E-boat operations still Impossible because of
the weather*

U-boat Situation :

Nothing to report.

CONFIDENT 1A1

SECURITY*' IIW ) ; MITION -36-

CONFIDENTIAL

Mi n eg y^)pl.ng A c tlvl ty i

Five motor minesweepers of 3rd Motor Minesweeper
Flotilla continued sweeping the southwestern
minefield gap at Sevastopol, covering the area
eight times without result. At 1200 the
operation had to be abandoned because of the
weather*

Two minesweeping planes swept tho Tarkhankutzki
area. Sixty strips were covered twice without
result.

Convoys off the south and west Crimean coasts
and in the western and northwestern Black Sea
proceeded without enemy interference.

The following convoys are at seas

a. 4 naval ferry barges and motor vessel "Anna";
Sevastopol - Ivan Baba.

b. 3 naval ferry barges: Thcodosia - Yalta.

c. Towed convoys; Ak Mechot - Sevastopol.
Steamer convoys j Sevastopol - Constantza/
Sulina.

CO! PIDEUTIAI

SECURITY IHFOIiM&TEON -87-

CONFIDENTIAL

21 ^P^cember^ ^943

Simferopol

1 *!? ri12-J^ ituation :

No night reconnaissance due to lack of planes.
During the day 12 planes carried out reconn-
aissance over the entire Black Sea without
sighting any enemy ships, A freighter of 3,000
tons was sighted off the Turkish coast about 28
miles northeast of Samsun, course southeast, and
another freighter of 4,000 tons about 10 miles
northeast of Ayanzlk, course west.

Main Naval d/f Station Reports ;

At noon the only enemy ship In the southeastern
Black Sea was a minesweeper.

Very slight activity of small vessels off the
east coast. Only 1 M.T.3. was detected at sea
off the southern part of the east coast.

After several days of radio silence by the
submarines, It was again possible to obtain
bearings by radio. However, no exact
information on the position of the submarines
could be obtained because the radiograms were
brief and only single line bearings could be
taken. Two submarines were detected in the
northwe stern Black Sea., while a third was heard
tuned for reception. Altogether 4-5
submarines are assumed to be In the operational
area •

Own Situations

Weather forecast:

West coast Crimea; Variable winds, force 2 - 3,
mainly overcast, light showers, visibility 6-10
miles, sea 1-2,

Yalta - Kerch; N winds, force 3 - 4, overcast,
showers, visibility 8-10 miles, local fogbanks,

Crimoa_ and Kerch Strait ;

a. Last night there were no naval ferry barge
operations in Kerch Strait.

b. Naval Gunnery Detachment 613 reported that
there was slight ferry traffic to the northern
beachhead and close to the Taman. coast.

SECURITY INFORMATION -88-

C0HF3DEBTTIAL

4th Battery shelled a large raft containing
25 men off Kolonka, Three hits were scored.
Six men swam to the shore, presumably the rest
were wounded or killed. The raft was ablaze.

Mornings On the evening of 20 December, an
advanced position was lost in the course of an
enemy company attack on the northern front,
A counter-attack is in progress. Otherwise
only German and enemy patrol activity with
somewhat livelier enemy shelling.

Evenings Nothing to report from either front.

1st Landing Graft Flotilla and Naval Gunnery
Detachment 613 were given the following orders
for the night of 2l/22 Decembers

1, At 2100 5 naval ferry barges will sail from
Kamish Burun to a patrol lino between
Chongelek and Kamish Burun, The naval ferry
barges will stand on and off in close
formation, speed 5 knots.

2* Tasks To prevent enemy landings and to attack
enemy forces. If enemy vessels are detected
approaching, the coast is to be warned by a
Most Immediate signal.

5, Naval ferry barges will ro-onter Kamish Burun
at 05 00.

4

If enemy batteries' shell the naval ferry
barges, Naval Gunnery Detachment 613 will
engage such batteries immediately.

»

The naval ferry barges sailed from Kamish Burun
• ' as scheduled.

I consider it necessary to send 3 boats of 1st
Landing Craft Flotilla to reinforce the naval
ferry barge base in Thoodosia so that a
sufficient number of light naval forces will be
available; immediately in the event of further
enemy landing attempts in Kerch Strait. At the
same, time these naval ferry barges will patrol
the Theodos la -Kamish Burun route which captured
Russian charts show to bo mined in a few places.
They will bo equipped with oropesa gear.

Commander, 1st Landing' Craft Flotilla was
, accordingly given the following orders %

1. 1st Landing Craft Flotilla will transfer naval
ferry barges F 152, P 501 and F 355 from
Sevastopol to Thoodosia for operations In
Kerch Strait and off the south coast of Kerch
Peninsula,

p, -hit v,T-r;,-rrrr ,1 y

SECURITY INFORMATION -39-

CONFIDENTIAL

2. The naval ferry barges will be equipped with
oropesa gear and, if possible, 2 cm. quadruple
mountings •

3, The naval ferry barges can be used as supply
transports on passage to Theodosia,

4, Report probable sailing date and commanders.

5. On arrival in Theodosia, the naval ferry
barges will come directly under the command
of Admiral, Black Sea for operations,

Western Black J3ea i

After being refloated, submarine chaser No. 316
which ran aground off Gura Ochakov put In to
Sulina at 17 00 with two salvage vessels. At
1330 tugs "Danzig" and "Wachau" sailed from
Nikolaiev for Odessa to transfer the 150-ton
floating dock.

At 233 0 this operation had to be canceled because
of a heavy fall of snow.

From 1300 to 1330, our mortars in Ochakov shelled
Kimburn point. Otherwise nothing to report.

The port and city of Kherson were heavily
bombarded by artillery and mortars. At 1235
naval ferry barges F 139, F 170 and F 307, which
are to be converted Into naval ferry barges
(guns) in LInz, put In to Sulina from Sevastopol.

Submarine chasers Nos. 103 and 106 arc on anti-
submarine patrol In the Tarkhankutzki area.
About 1200 submarine chaser No. 105 was attacked
by a' submarine some 20 miles southeast of
Tarkhankutzki, Two torpedoes were fired. The
submarine was not observed before the attack.
One torpedo passed under the submarine chaser's
stern. After 8 depth charges had been dropped,
a largo oil patch appeared. Both submarine
chasers are In pursuit.

It is thought that mines were laid from the air
at 2000 about 4,000 meters northwest of Cape
Constantin (Sevastopol).

Commander, 30th Motor Minesweeper Flotilla was
therefore ordered to dispatch FZ-boats to check
the route from 2 miles north of Green 42 via
Green 42 to the Inkerinann beacon.

At 1100 fire broke out in lighter "Braila" in
Sevastopol, It was caused by careless smoking.
Immediate steps were taken to deal with the firo
but 52 seriously wounded prisoners of war

CONFIDENTIAL
S

^CCUEITT INFORMATION -90-

CONFIDENTIAL

perished In the flames and 38 were injured.
The fire was finally pub out at 1530. No
damage to the- lighter or the ammunition cargo.

In reply to an inquiry from Commander, 1st
Landing' Craft Flotilla concerning the degaussing
of 2 naval ferry barges, orders were given to
send naval ferry barges F 135 and P 446 to
Constantza. F 135 together with F 476 on her
return from Ivan Baba Is to be used as a naval
transport. The naval ferry barges will return
to Sevastopol immediately after degaussing.

At 0610 motor vessel "Anna" sprang a leak forward
after colliding with the wreck of "Baikal" off
the entrance to Yalta. The damage Is being
repaired by a diver.

U-boat Situation:

At 1500 U 9 commenced return passage to Constantza
from the operational area off Poti.

Mine swe ep ing Act i vi ty :

From. 0615 to 1715, 4 boats of 3rd Motor Minesweeper
Flotilla swept the southwestern minefield gap at
Sevastopol. No mines.

From 0600 to 1615, 4 FZ-boats carried out a check
sweep for standard mines off Tarkhankutzki
without result.

Supply Traffic ;

A. Apart from the mishap to motor vessel "Anna"
in the Sevastopol-Yalta naval ferry barge
convoy, there was nothing to report from
convoys sailing off the Crimean coast.

The following convoys reached their
destinations safely;

a. 4 naval ferry barges and motor vessel "Anna"
put in to Yalta from Sevastopol.

b. 3 naval ferry barges and tug "Kehl" (with
tow) put in to Sevastopol from Yalta.

c. 3 naval ferry barges put In to Sevastopol
from The odes la to be repaired.

d. 3 naval ferry barges carrying assault guns
put in to Ak Mechet from Odessa,

e. The towed convoy comprising "Junak",
"Theben", "Kimburn", "LuWck", "Lobau" and
tow put in to Sevastopol from Odessa.

CCIvFIDgvTIAL

SECURITY INFORMATION -91-

CONFIDENTIAL

B. Crimea supplies:

Because of recent delays in the loading and
unloading of ships, the following memorandum
has been sent to 17th Army H.Q. with copy to
Group South:

Prom 1-20 December, 20,700 tons of supplies
were sent to the Crimea. ■ Hence, although
there were no losses or delays caused by
enemy action during this period, the actual
amount of supplies sent fell short of the
target figure of 30,000 tons by 9,300 tons.

Next to the bad weather, which caused delays
and even a total stoppage of convoys on
several days, the main reason for this
deficiency was the bad use made of the
available tonnage. An extraordinarily long
time was taken to load and unload ships,
especially largo steamers. For instance,
steamer "Ardeal", which entered Sevastopol on
4 December, was not ready to sail again until
19 December, Thus fifteen days were required
for loading and unloading. The monthly turn
round, on 'which the calculation for the target
figure was based, cannot be achieved if a ship
has to stay 15 days in Sevastopol,

Army H,00, was urgently requested to take the
necessary measures to remedy this state of
affairs and not to interfere with the
organization of Admiral, Black Sea by giving
direct orders concerning certain cargoes on
certain vessels.

CONFIDENTIAL

SECURITY INFORMATION -92-

CONFIDENTIAL

22 December, 194-5

Simferopol

Enemy Situation

No night reconnaissance. No enemy vessels
were sighted in the course of daylight reconn-
aissance over the entire Black Sea.

Th© following vessels were sighted off the
Turkish coast:

One coastal vessel of 800 tons, course west,
about 13 miles northeast of Inebolu, 1 freighter
of 4,000 tons, course west, 5 miles northwest of
Cide. One freighter of 5,000 tons, course east,
was sighted about 20 miles northeast of Zonguldak
and also 6 small coastal sailing; vessels, course
we st,

A radio intercept report stated that at 1005 a
minesweeper received the position of an unknown
vessel given as about 19 miles northnorthwest of
Poti.

Main Naval d/f Station Reports :

In the afternoon 3 Ivl.T.B.s, 1 motor gunboat and
1 minesweeper were located between the central
and southern Caucasus coasts, probably proceeding
to the northwest.

In the evening destroyer "G" was detected off the
northern part of the 'east coast, probably in the
Ghelenjik -Anapa area. Two more minesweepers
are thought to be in the same area.

Submarines detected : 4 in the northwestern
Black Sea as far as the west coast. Submarine
"Of" is assumed to be in the operational area.
It may have been this submarine which was
attacked by submarine chasers Nos . 103 and 106 «

Own Situation j

Woather forecast;

4-
■9

West coast Crimea: SE - E winds, force 5
overcast, light showers, visibility 6-10 miles,
sea 2 - 5 .

Yalta - Kerch: E winds, force 4-4 (sic),
overcast, light showers, visibility 6 - 10 miles,
sea 2 - 5,

CONFIDENTIAL

UTT INFORMATION -93-

CONFIDENTIAL

G(M<'Ijj}wn.rV

Crimea and Kerch Strait :

a. During the night of 21/22 December, 3 naval
ferry barges In patrol line in Kerch Strait
made no contact with the enemy.

k • Dand JSitua t i o n :

Morning" All quiet during the night except
for German and enemy patrol activity.

Evening; On the northern front the enemy
shelled our main defense line, particularly
near Djinbuluk, The bridge over the SIvash
north of Russki is now repaired. There was
brisk enemy supply traffic.

After heavy artillery fire, the enemy attack
in the Baksy beachhead south 'of Hill 34.7 was
repulsed.

There will be no operations in Kerch Strait
during the coming night. The naval ferry barges
in Kamish Burun will be at 1 hour's readiness
from 1700 until 0400.

West :o r n B 1 a c k Sea;

The transfer of the 150-ton crane from NIkolalev
to Odessa was held up because of the ice block
near Woloshki, Tug "Lobau" was sent out to
break the ice.

Naval Liaison Officer to Army Group A reported
that plans are under way for evacuating the
Kherson bridgehead, In the appended report
(ASM Gkdos, Chefs 340/43), I refer to the
unfavorable and perhaps decisive effect which the
evacuation of this bridgehead on the left bank of
the Dnieper would have on the restoration of land
communications necessary for retaining our hold
on -the Crimea,

At 1215 submarine chasers Nos , 103 and 106 again
detected a submarine at the same spot in the
Tarkhankutzki area. All remaining depth charges
wore dropped. Oil patches and air bubbles were
seen to appear, but no wreckage. At 1245
submarine chaser "Xanten" sailed from Ak Mechot
t o g I v e assistance.

As the weather has Improved, E-boats will again
operate off the Caucasus coast,

1st E-Boat Flotilla received the following orders-

During the night of 22/23 December, 2 E-boats
will operate between Cape Utrich and Oseraika
valley, while 3 E-boats operate against enemy

-94-

CONFIDENTIAL

shipping close to the Caucasus coast between
Idokopas and Dzhubg, The decision to stay in
lurking positions or to carry out an offensive
patrol, depending on 'weather conditions and
visibility, will be left to the group commanders.
Torpedoes may be fired at any worthwhile target.
At 1450 the boats will sail from Ivan Baba In
close formation. The 2 boats will begin return
passage at 0300 and the others at 0200. They
will sail within range of the coast both outward
and homeward bound. The boats are free to
attack submarines- in the operational area on
both outward and return passage. The flotilla
has been informed that none of our own vessels
is at sea east of Ivan Baba.

1st Air Corps was ordered to send out night
reconnaissance planes to cooperate with the
E-boats off the Caucasus coast between Anapa and
Tuapse from 1900 to 0300.

At 1430 the E-boats put out from Ivan Baba for
the operation.

IJ-b oa t Sit ua t ion ;

At 1345 U 24 entered Sulina from Galatz.

At 0700, after completing her dockyard repairs,
IT 19 sailed from Constantza on her 16th operation
(7th Black Sea operation). Route; Constantza
via the northern route to the operational area
off Poti.

Ml no s w e e pi ng A c t i v I ty i

Five boats of 3rd Motor Minesweeper Flotilla
carried out 12 sweeps in the southwestern mine-
field gap at Sevastopol without result,

FZ-boats made a check sweep for standard mines
off Cape Tarkhankutzki and off Sevastopol (where
minolaying was suspected), No mines were swept.

Supply Traffic :

Convoys in the western Black Sea and off the
Crimean -coast ran as scheduled without enemy
interference.

CONFIDENTIAL

LETT INFORMATION -95-

CONFIDENTIAL

23 December, 1945

Simferopol

Enemy Situation:

Daylight reconnaissance was flown over the
central and eastern Black Sea, concentrating on
the northeastern area. No enemy vessels were
sighted.

There was no night reconnaissance because of the
weather.

A radio intercept report stated that a submarine
chaser had transmitted the position of a vessel
about 8 miles northwest of Ochemchiri to a
gunboat and an M.T.B,

Main Naval d/f Station Reports :

At noon only 1 minesweeper was detected off the
central part of the east coast. In the evening,
Main Naval d/F Station reported continuous
activity of small vessels between the central
and southern parts of the east coast. One
minesweeper, 3 M.T.B.s, 2 gunboats, 1 patrol
boat and 1 unidentified vessel virere detected at
sea. Off the northern part of the east coast

1 motor gunboat was detected and off the southern
part destroyer nG,-,!, probably sailing from Tuapse
on a southeasterly course.

Naval Shore Commander, Caucasus reported that at
0900 a large destroyer, 1 torpedoboat or large
gunboat and 4 small vessels were sighted about

2 miles southwest of Zhelezni Bog. The ships
were on a northwesterly course. When the fog
lifted, the destroyer turned and made off to the
southeast. The torpedoboat or gunboat stopped
and the 4 small vessels continued on their
course. Air reconnaissance flown immediately
afterwards and 3 more times In the course of the
day over the southern part of Kerch Strait and
off the south coast of Taman Peninsula up to 15
miles southeast of Zhelezni Rog detected nothing.

It must therefore be assumed that the obser-
vations from the shore were Inexact, or that the
size of the ' ships was overestimated because of
the weather. Presumably the boats put in to

Taman •

Submarines detected s 2 in the northwestern
Black Sea including the waters off the west
coast of the Crimea, Another submarine was
deduced to be in the operational area, A
submarine which was detected about 50 miles

CDNI^IDENTJAT

SECURITY INFORMATION -96-

CONFIDENTIAL

south of Sevastopol is presumably on return
passage. A radio intercept report stated that
the submarine which has been attacked several
times since 21 December by submarine chaser
No. 103 can be only submarine "0", which is now
returning to port. Presumably she has been
damaged.

Own Situation:

Weather forecast:

E winds, farce 2-3, cloudy, visibility 10 miles
after early morning mist, fogbanks towards dawn,
sea 2.

Crimea and Kerch Stjra^it:

a. Last night the naval ferry barges in Kamish
Burun were at 1 hour's readiness. Nothing
to report,

k • Land Situation :

Morning: On both fronts only patrol activity
with heavy artillery fire locally.

Evening: Only slight artillery and mortar
fire. Isolated enemy fighters over the rear
of the. eastern front. On the northern front
the observation of enemy positions was
res trie tod by fog.

During the coming night the naval ferry barges in
Kamish Burun will be at 1 hour's readiness.

Western Black Sea:

We may expect Russian operations against our
coasts and convoys on Christmas Day and New Year's
Day because the enemy will assume that we shall
relax our watchfulness and operational readiness
on these days.

Naval Shore Commanders, Commander, Convoys and
Escorts, 1st E-Boat Flotilla, 3rd Motor Minesweeper
Flotilla and 1st Landing Craft Flotilla were
therefore given orders to be very much on the
alert on those days.

Tug "Wachau" and a lighter, which were towing a
150-ton crane from ITikolaiev to Odessa, ran aground
with the crane off the northern part of Kimburn
point. The crane was hit 25 times by artillery.
Because of the winds blowing against the shore and
the heavy artillery fire, it is impossible to
salvage the crane at the moment.

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INFORMATION -97-

CONFIDENTIAL

Submarine chasers Nos • 2301, 2307 and 2308 (armed
fishing vessels) j which were detailed to relieve
submarine chasers Nos. 103, 106 and "Xanten",
were informed of a radio intercept report stating
that there are several enemy submarines in the
Eupatoria-Tarkhankutzki area. The boats were
also Informed that the submarine chasers to be
relieved are at present attacking a submarine
thought to be damaged in air grid square 2668
(south of Tarkhankutzki ) • Systematic attacks
have been made more difficult by the breakdown
of the search gear.

Submarine chaser No. 2301 was ordered to sail
from Sevastopol at 1400 with Nos, 2307 and 2308
and to proceed at maximum speed via route Green
to air grid square 2668 to relieve submarine
chasers Nos, 103 and 106 and "Xanten" which are
pursuing the damaged submarine.

When the submarine has been sunk, the submarine
chasers "will carry out an anti-submarine patrol
in air grid squares 2660, 2630 and 367 0, The
boats will not return to port until they receive
orders from Admiral, Black Sea, Senior officer
will be the commander of vessel No, 2301,

No, 105 was ordered to remain at the place of
the attack until relieved and then return to
Sevastopol with "Xanten" and No, 105, She
reported that the sea was thickly covered with
oil for three miles around. The wreck was
located by "Xanten" and depth charges were again
dropped. The submarine has now been submerged
for 6 0 hours and is probably sunk,

1st Landing Craft Flotilla reported that the
sailing of the 3 naval ferry barges to be trans-
ferred to Thoodosia had had to be postponed by
one day because of the loading of the barges.
The craft will presumably sail on the afternoon
of 25 December,

Last night 1st E-Boat Flotilla carried out the
prescribed operation against enemy shipping off
the Caucasus coast.

From 183 0 until 0300, the northern group remained
in lurking positions In air grid squares 7553 -
7518, Nothing was sighted. There was a
powerful searchlight near Anapa,

From 2030 until 2305, the southern group
remained in lurking positions In air grid square
8567, then in patrol line as far as air grid
square 8554, At 0200 the boats commenced
return passage. No enemy shipping. Lively
searchlight activity off Ghelenjik. During
December, the operations of 1st E-Boat Flotilla

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CONFIDENTIAL

against enemy shipping close to the Caucasus
coast north of Tuapse have been unsuccessful
because neither convoys nor patrols have been
encountered. At present it would appear that
only a few supplies, if any, are being taken by
Sea to Ghelenjik and Anapa. The front near
Kerch also seems to be adequately, supplied by
railroad transport and trucks to the loading
places In the Sea of Azov and at Kossa Chushka,
Only air reconnaissance can verify this
assumption. Despite repeated requests, there
has been no reconnaissance of the Caucasus coast
for a long time because of shortage of planes.

U-b o at J5 1 1 run. 1 1 on :

At 2530 U 24, escorted by motor minesweeper R 197,
entered Constantza from Sulina.

Mine swe e pi ng Ac t iyi_ty ;

From 0600 until 1700 the southwestern minefield
gap was again swept by 5 motor minesweepers and
Sevastopol harbor entrance by 2 FZ-boats. No
mines swept.

Two mineswecping planes covered the Cape
Tarkhankutzki area. Sixty strips were twice
swept without result.

Supply Traffic ;

Only slight convoy traffic because of the
weather,

a. The Ak Mechet-Odessa towed convoy turned
about because of fog and anchored off Ak
Mechet.

b. "Lola" and 3 motor minesweepers are
proceeding from Sulina to Sevastopol,

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CONFIDENTIAL

24 December, 1945

Simferopol

Enemy S ituat ion :

Night reconnaissance had to be postponed again
because of the weather.

No enemy shipping was detected In the course of
daylight reconnaissance over the entire Black
Sea, concentrating on the northeastern area.

Off the Turkish coast 1 coastal vessel was
sighted about 25 miles northwest of Samsun and
1 freighter of 5,000 tons, course west, 20 miles
northwest of Samsun.

Main Naval d/f Station Reports ;

During the forenoon, Main Naval d/f Station
detected a destroyer presumably off the southern
part of the east coast and a minesweeper in the
Batum area.

During the evening there was a general decrease
in the activity of small vessels. Two motor
gunboats and an unidentified vessel were deduced
to be between the central and southern parts of
the east coast, while 2 more M.T.B.s and 2 small
vessels of an unidentified type were detected off
the southern part. One motor gunboat was
detected in the Sea of Azov*

Submarines detected i 1 in the northwestern Black
Sea and 1 southwest of Sevastopol. It is
thought that there are 2 more submarines in the
operational area. One more submarine was
detected in the eastern Black Sea.

It is striking that for the past few days
submarines approaching the operational area In
the northwestern Black Sea have made a wide turn
to the west or south and then approached
Eupatoria Bay on a northerly course. It may
therefore bo assumed that the enemy suspects
minefields along our coast or is aware of the
minefields west of Sevastopol.

Own Situation:

Weather forecast

W winds, force 5-4, visibility 10 - 12 miles,
fog in patches, sea 2-5.

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INFORMATION -100-

CONFIDENTIAL

The following teletype 'was received from
Commanding General, Army Group A;

ilrp

To Commanding Admiral, Black Seaj

Gratefully acknowledge all the assistance and
support you have given by placing naval units
under my command, and send my sincere thanks
and best wishes for a merry Christmas and a
victorious New Year.

Heil Hitler!

(Signed) von Kleist.

Field Marshal."

Crimea and Kerch Strait :

a. Last night the naval ferry barges In Kamish
Burun were at 1 hour's readiness. Nothing
to report.

Operations for the night of 24/25 December:

The vessels sighted off the Taman coast between
Cape Tuszla and Zhelezni Rog in the forenoon of
23 December give reason to suppose that the
enemy is concentrating boats in Taman for
operations during the night of 24/25 December 5
.which would be especially suitable for this
purpose. The enemy will assume that we shall
relax on this night.

I have therefore decided to send 3 naval ferry
barges to a patrol lino in Kerch Strait between
.Cape Takii and Kamish Burun on Christmas Eve.

The boats will sail from Kamish Burun at 17 00
and will patrol in close formation at a speed
of 5 knots until daybreak. The boats will then
enter Kamish Burun.

1st Landing Craft Flotilla has been Instructed
accordingly* Naval Gunnery Detachment 615 has
been ordered to silence the enemy batteries if
they shell the naval ferry barges.

The naval ferry barges wore In position at the
correct time.

Western Black Sea i

Reports from Naval port Commander, Nikolaiev
state that there was moderate artillery fire,
, machine-gunning and rifle fire in Kherson.
Otherwise no change.

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An attempt Is being made to find out whether the
150-ton crane and tug "Wachau" with lighter,
which are aground off the northern tip of Kimburn
Peninsula, can be refloated If the enemy battery
Is suppressed by bombing or our own artillery.

Now that 3 armed fishing vessels have been sent
to reinforce the submarine chaser force,
submarine chaser "Xanten" is again at the
disposal of the. Commander, Convoys and Escorts,
Black Sea for escort and patrol duties.

After being relieved by submarine chasers Nos ,
2301, 2307 and 2308 ? submarine chasers Nos, 103
and 106 and "Xanten;! are nutting in to
Sevastopol, Nos, 2301, 2307 and 2308 are
continuing anti-submarine operations In
Eupatorla Bay,

In view of the fact that 6 enemy vessels were
sighted off Zhelezni Rog yesterday morning, it
may safely bo assumed that there will be traffic
off the north Caucs.sus coast and supply ships and
light naval forces in Anapa, Therefore an
E-boat operation In this area during the coming
night promises success.

Pour boats of 1st E~3oat Flotilla have
accordingly been instructed to sail from Ivan
Baba at 1500 and to stand on a,nd off close to the
coast between Cape Utrich and Utrich Nok.

Every worthwhile target should be attacked with
torpedoes, while smaller vessels should be
engaged with guns.

If no target presents itself before 2300, the
flotilla will leave the operational area and
carry out a surprise shelling of the port of
Anapa at close range. All available E-boats
equipped with 4 cm. guns will take part In the
operation and ships In Anapa roads may also be
attacked with torpedoes. The E-boats are free
to attack submarines. After the operation, the
E-boats will return to Ivan Baba,

1st Air Corps was requested:

a. to find out, if possible today, the number of
ships In port at Anapa and to Inform 1st
E-Boat Flotilla immediately]

b, to send out night reconnaissance planes to
cooperate with the E-boats and also to cover
the sound of the boats as they approach Anapa
and to drop flares to light the target.

At 1500 the boats sailed from Ivan Baba but had
to turn about at 1800 about 15 miles west of

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CONFIDENTIAL

Anapa because of NNE winds, force 5, sea 4 - 5
and a heavy swell. When the boats had passed
the southern entrance to Kerch. Strait, the
weather did not Improve, In continuous fog,
they could only keep contact with one another
by stern lights and searchlights. Because of
the rough sea washing the decks, the boats could
not use their armament, and at 2050 they put In
to Ivan Bab a again,

U-boat Situation:

U 19 Is proceeding in a southeasterly direction
to operational area "Otter11, U 23 Is sailing
to the northern part of operational areas
"Panter" and "Biber",' At 0400 U 9 will be 24
hours from Constantsa, At 0400 on 25 December,
motor minesweeper R 197 will be at position CS 1
to escort U 9 to Conotantza,

Mi ne swe e p ing Ac t i v i ty ;

Prom 0600 to 1500, 5 boats of 3rd Motor Mine-
sweeper Flotilla swept the southwestern mine-
field gap without result.

Two mine sweeping planes carried out a sweep In
the Cape Tarkhankutzki area. Thirty strips
were swept once without result. The operation
had to be broken off because of the weather.

Supply Traffic s

Convoys were held up by fog. The remainder of
the Ak Mechot-Odessa towed convoy, comprising
tug "Lobau", "Kornion" and "Dresden'1 , had to
return to Ak Mechot.

CONFIDENTIAL

;.;f;tLgTY information -103-

CONFIDENTIAL

25 December, 1945

Simferopol

Enemy SItua t i oh i

Night reconnaissance over the northeastern Black
Sea sighted no enemy vessels. On the return
flight, the reconnaissance plane bombed Anapa,
scoring direct hits on anti-aircraft emplacements.

No enemy shipping was sighted in the course of
daylight reconnaissance over the entire Black Sea.

One Turkish freighter of 2,000 tons, course west,
was detected close to the Turkish coast about 5
. miles west of Amasra.

A radio intercept report stated that a submarine,
X^osition unknown, received an air reconnaissance
report on a ship or convoy which had been sighted.
The same report was also transmitted to another
/submarine •

-M^AQ- Jla, Y aA J2/X -S- "b a ^Aon ^e-P °-r-tLs- °°

During the afternoon 3 M.T.B.s and 2 motor
gunboats were detected between the northern and
southern parts of the east coast and 1 M.T.B. and
1 unidentified small vessel off the southern part.
During the evening moderate activity of small
vessels continued in the northern to central
Black Sea. One minesweeper, another M.T.B. and
1 motor gunboat wore detected.

Submarines detected: 1 about 120 miles east of
Constantza and 2 in the operational area in
unidentified positions. One submarine was about
6 0 miles west of Anaklia, returning to port, and
a fifth boat was located between the eastern and
central Black Sea, presumably putting to sea,

Ow n Sit ua t 1 on ;

Weather forecast:

E winds, force 4, cloudy to fair, sea 2 - 3,
visibility 6-10 miles.

Crimea and Kerch Strait :

a. From 1700 to 0500 on 24/25 December, naval
ferry barges were in patrol lino in Kerch
Strait between CapoTakil and Kamish Burun,
but sighted nothing.

SECURITY INFORMATION -104-

CONFIDENTIAL

k • Ijand Situation %

Mornings nothing to report apart from German
and enemy patrol activity.

Evenings Nothing to report.

There will bo no operations in Kerch Strait
during the coming night. The naval ferry
barges in Kamish Burun will be at 1 hour's
readiness from 1600 until 0500 on 26 December,

17th Army H,Q. reported that the request
submitted to Army Group A for combined operations
boats and large assault boats to be used in the
defense of Kerch Strait has been refused.

Because the plans to use those boats in Kerch
Strait have now fallen through, Army II. Q,,
submitted the following requests

a. That the south coast of Kerch Peninsula,
especially Theodosia Bay, should be protected
against surprise enemy landings near
Theodosia,

b. That offensive patrols be carried out in
Kerch Strait to shew the enemy that they must
at all times reckon with the intervention of
the Navy,

Commanding General does not believe that the
radar, air reconnaissance and the coastal
defense measures proposed by Admiral, Black Sea
will be sufficient to prevent a surprise landing
on the south coast of Kerch Peninsula, He is
of the opinion that there should be permanent
night patrols off Theodosia Bay, This request,,
however, can only be met insofar as .Admiral,
Black Sea has already ordered 3 naval ferry
barges to be transferred to Theodosia for
operations off the south coast of Kerch Peninsula,
These boats are intended for night patrol between
Cape Takil and Theodosia, concentrating on
Theodosia Bay, just as the naval ferry barges
stationed in Kamish Burun patrol in Kerch Strait,

There arc not sufficient craft available to
screen the entire coastline every night. The
object of transferring the boats to Theodosia
for coastal patrol duties is as follows:

a. To have at least some naval ferry barges at
hand for immediate operations in the event of
enemy landings,

b. To show the enemy, who will be informed of the
patrols by their own reconnaissance or their

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SECURITY IWF0RI

ITIQN

-105-

CONFIDENTIAL

intelligence organization, that they must
expect the same disruption of supplies in the
Theodosia area as they encountered in the
Eltigen landings.

17th Army H»Q,. has been informed accordingly.

In 1 Ski. lb 4017/43 dated 25 December, Naval
High Command again drew attention to the military
and political importance of. the Crimea as regards
the favorable development of the war In Europe.
The report also referred to the necessity of
finding a solution for the Crimea problems
within the framework of the entire eastern front,
with the Navy assisting the Army with all moans
at its disposal* ■■'/.

The principle In all measures adopted by Admiral,
Black Sea in respect of the dispersal. of
personnel and material which, started towards the
end of October of this year has always been -
sometimes against the orders of Army Group - to
stabilize the Crimea situation as quickly as
possible, and to ensure that the supplies upon
which the' defense of the Crimea depends arc
safely brought across the sea. All the measures
which I adopted in naval operations or coastal
defense were guided by this principle.

Bearing this in mind, the removal of the
Quartermaster Staff to Odessa, which was carried
• out under the dispersal measures on 29 October,
has already been canceled. . The Staff has been,
ordered to return to the Operational Staff at
Simferopol at the beginning of January 1944,

Western Black Sea :

Naval Port Commander, Nikolaiev reported heavy
bombardment of the city of Kherson and machine -
gunfire and rifle fire in the harbor area.
During the day, our own guns shelled enemy
positions In Ochakov, • Enemy guns are shelling
Pervomeisk and stranded vessels near Kimburn.
At Pervomeisk naval gunnery lighter No, 4 was
seriously damaged by 6 direct hits. One 8.8 cm,
gun and one 2 cm. gun were put out of action.
The naval gunnery lighter cannot be refloated.
The order has been given to salvage the rest of
the 8.8 cm. ammunition. Naval Port Commander,
Ochakov was ordered to report whether the guns
of naval gunnery lighter No, 4 can still be
fired, despite the direct hits on the craft.

At 2030 naval ferry barge P 563, which was
carrying the barrel of a railroad gun, ran aground
off Eupatoria lighthouse near Cape Malnak, The
boat cannot be refloated under her own power.
Salvage work has been arranged. Throe armed

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SECURITY INFORMATION -106-

CONFIDENTIAL

fishing vessels carried out anti-submarine
operations in Eupatoria Bay. Nothing to report*

Commander, 3rd Motor Minesweeper Flotilla was
ordered to send motor minesweepers R 165, R 205
and R 206, which are lying in Sevastopol and are
not required for operations until 27 December
(convoy duties), to sweep the southwestern mine-
field gap at Sevastopol.

Commander, Convoys and Escorts, Black Sea and
Commander, Convoys and Escorts, Crimean Coast
have been informed accordingly.

U-boat Situation ;

At 0815 U 9 entered Gonstantza from her 14th
operation (8th Black Sea operation).

-t

Mi ne s we e pin g A c 1 1 v 1 ty ;

None •

Supply Traffic i

The following convoys wore at sea off the
Crimean coast:

a. The towed convoy, comprising "Kimburn",
"Junak", "Schlirmann 10", 7 more vessels and
5 submarine chasers, from Sevastopol via
Ak Mechet to Odessa.

b. "Dresden", etc, and 4 submarine chasers from
Ak Mechet to Odessa.

c. Five naval ferry barges from Sevastopol via
Ak Mechet to Odessa.

d. Four naval ferry barges (repairs) from
Theodosia to Sevastopol and the escorted
steamer "Geisorich" to Sevastopol,

In the first convoy tug "Schlirmann 10" which was
towing a lighter ran aground in fog off Eupatoria
at 2000. Situation not yet clear.

CONFIDENTIAL

SECURITY INFORMATION -107-

CONFIDENTIAL

26 December, 1945

Simferopol

En emy _ Si tua t i on :

There was no night reconnaissance because of the
weather.

No enemy shipping was sighted in the course of
air reconnaissance over the central to eastern
Black Sea in difficult weather conditions. One
Turkish freighter viras sighted off the Turkish
coast near Cape Sinope.

Main Naval d/f Station^ Reports ;

During the afternoon 2 M.T.B.s and 1 patrol
vessel were detected off the northern to central
parts of the east coast and 2 minesweepers off
the southern part*'

No other surface vessels were detected in the
evening and during the night.

Submarines detected i 2 tuned to reception in
the northwestern Black Sea and 2 thought to be in
the operational area. During the afternoon
1 submarine was detected -returning to port about
50 miles west of Batum.

Own Si tuition ;

Weather forecasts

SE - E winds, force 5-4, cloudy, fogbanks,
otherwise visibility 4-8 miles, sea 2-3.

Crimea and Kerch Strait;

a. No operations last night.

Naval ferry barges at 1 hour's readiness in
Kamish Burun reported nothing.

b • Land Situation s

Mornings Patrol activity in the Baksy beach-
head. Lively patrol activity and fighting
on the northern front.

Evenings All quiet during the day with minor
exchanges of gunfire. No detailed obser-
vations could be made because of mist.

COMFIDENTIAl

security information -108-

CONFIDENTIAL

Operations for the night of 26/27 December:

Three naval ferry barges of 1st Landing Graft
Flotilla in Kamish Burun were ordered to patrol
between Cape Takil and Kamish Burun from 1700
until 0500 on 27 December, For details, see
relevant order dated 24 December.

The naval ferry barges were not in position until
2140 because dense fog delayed their sailing from
Kamish Burun* Because of a failure in the
center engine of one of the barges, there were
only 2 craft in the patrol line.

Western Black Sea;

During the day the town of Kherson came under
artillery and rifle fire* Otherwise no important
change in the situation. During the night of
25/26 December, Ochakov reported barrage fire
from Pervomeisk to Kimburn Peninsula.

Naval Port Commander, Ochakov reported that at
2520 naval gunnery lighter No. 4, which was
seriously damaged by shelling, was brought to
the E-boat base at Ochakov by tugs. She cannot
continue to Odessa and will be unfit for further
operations. Nevertheless, everything possible
will be done to transfer her from Ochakov to
Odessa, The transfer must take place by the
middle of January 1944 because of the ice.

Having taken on fresh stores and equipment for
another anti-submarine patrol, submarine chasers
Nos , 105 and 105 were ordered to sail from
Sevastopol at 1500 via route Green for the place
where an enemy submarine was recently engaged.

The submarine chasers have been informed that the
sinking of the submarine which they attacked from
20 to 25 December has not buen confirmed. Nos.
2501, 2507 and 2508 which left to continue the
attack on this submarine could not find the
marker buoy in the mist and were unable to locate
the submarine because of heavy seas. Submarine
chasers Nos. 101 and 106 will keep an intensive
listening "watch to find out whether the submarine
is still lying where she was last detected.
Sound detection reports and further evidence,
e.g. fresh, oil patches etc., will be reported by
wireless •

The boats will not return to port until they have
received special orders from Admiral, Black Sea.

Submarine chasers Nos. 2501, 2507 and 2508, which
put in to Eupatoria because of the weather, were
ordered to carry out an anti-submarine patrol in

CONFIDEIfHAL

SECURITY INFORMATION -109-

CONFIDENTIAL

the area west of Tarkhankutzki (air grid squares
2630, 2650 and 2670). They sailed at 2100.

South Coast Cr imea :

Commander, 1st Landing Craft Flotilla was ordered
to send naval ferry barges F 132, F 301 and F 335
to Yalta at 16 00. These craft are being trans-
ferred to Kerch Strait,

The boats will patrol route Brown from Brown 2
as far- as the entrance to Yalta with oropesa
gear, single sweep, 10-meter pendant. If a
mine is found, the place will be noted and a
Most Immediate .. report transmitted. The boats
will then continue sweeping.

At 1500 on 27 December, the boats will proceed
via route Brown to Theodosia. From Yalta they
will sail to Brown 13, towing the gear, then
carry out a check sweep as en route to Yalta,
On arrival at Theodosia, the cargo is to be
immediately discharged.

The boats ''will await further orders from Admiral,
Black Sea,

1st Landing Craft Flotilla, Kerch was informed
that it is intended to send naval ferry barges
F 132, F 3 01 and F 335 about 30 December to
relievo the 3 naval ferry barges lying in Kamish

Burun .

U-b oa t _S i t ua t i o n :

Nothing to report.

Mine swe c ping Act i vl ty :

Eight boats of 3rd Motor Minesweeper Flotilla
carried out minosvireeping off the southwestern
minefield gap at Sevastopol without result,

FZ -boats made a check sweep for standard mines In
Sevastopol harbor entrance. No mines swept*

Two minesweeping planes made a check sweep for
standard mines off Capo Tarkhankutzki. No
mines swept.

Supply Traffic ;

Convoys in the northwestern Black Sea and off
the. Crimean coast ran without incident, except
for the Sevastopol-Odessa towed convoy which was
dispersed in fog. No enemy action.

q j'iDEi?mT.

SECURITY INFORMATION -110-

01TP IDENTIAL

The following vessels in the towed convoy ran
aground in fog: tug "Schilrmann 10" with lighter
"Braila" off Eupatoria, steamer "Kimburn" and
naval ferry barge P 565 off Gape Mainak
(Eupatoria) and P -316 off Tarkhankutzki, All
the vessels have since been refloated and have
arrived in the intermediate port of Ak Mechet.
No damage reported.

On 27 December a section of the convoy will
continue to Odessa.

SECURITY INFORMATION -111-

CONFIDENTIAL

27 December, 1945

Simferopol

Enemy Situation J

Night reconnaissance planes flying over the
eastern Black Sea detected small vessels in
Theodosia Bay. Exact positions were not given.
Presumably this was the convoy consisting of
motor vessel "Anna" and 2 escort vessels which
was proceeding from Ivan Baba to Theodosia.

No reports on enemy ships in the course of
daylight reconnaissance over the entire Black
Sea,

At 0850 4 torpedo bombers were sighted flying
towards Eupatoria Bay from the direction of
Ghelenjik. The planes reported to their
control station that they were flying over
German ships which were presumably searching
for mines. The ships in question might be the
3 submarine chasers sailing in this area and
the 4 FZ-boats engaged on check sweeps there.

Main Naval P/F Station Reports %

No surface forces were detected during the
afternoon.

During the evening, 1 patrol vessel and 1 motor
gunboat were detected between the northern and
central parts of the east coast and 4 mine-
sweepers off the southern part. During the
night, activity of small vessels in the northern
to central Black Sea decreased. One IvI.T.B. was
detected In the eastern Sea of Azov.

Submarines detected: 2 in the northwestern
Black Sea, positions only approximate, and
another off the west coast of the Crimea.
During the evening, a submarine was detected in
the eastern Black Sea returning to port.
Another submarine was thought to bo in the same
area, No further details available •

Own Situa ti on i
Weather forecast :

Ak Mechet areas WW winds, force 3 - 4j rest of
Crimean coast SE - E winds, force 3-4,

General: Overcast, showers, visibility 6-10
miles, fogbanks, sea 2-3,

CONFIDENTIAL

INFORMATION -112-

CONFIDENTIAL

Crimea and Kerch S_tm.it :

a. Last night 3 naval ferry barges on patrol in
Kerch Strait between Cape Takil and Kamish
Burun from 2200 until dawn sighted nothing.

b. Naval Gunnery Detachment 613 reported moderate
ferry traffic to the northern beachhead under
cover of a smoke screen. Our bombers
attacked ships and targets on land. Fires
were observed.

Our fighters machine-gunned 2 M.I.B.s and
smoke was seen to come from one of the enemy
boats, which was later beached east of the
southern tip of Kossa Tuszla.

c. Land Situation:

Morning: During the night, patrol activity
and normal exchanges of gunfire.

Evening: Nothing to report.

There will be no operations in Kerch Strait
during the coming night. Three naval ferry
barges in Kamish Burun were ordered to be at 1
hour's readiness from 1600 until 0500.

Western Black Seas

Shelling, rifle fire and machine-gunfire were
reported from Kherson. A 40-ton crane and a
small suction dredger were safely transferred
from Kherson to Kasperovka via Lake Byoloye under
heavy fire. One tug broke down with engine
trouble. The crane and boats will proceed to
Ochakov as soon as a tug is available.

The 150-ton crane and tug "Wachau" which ran
aground off Ochakov were bombarded by mortars.
Up to now, attempts to tow them off have failed.

Five submarine chasers (2 naval transports and
3 armed fishing vessels) are on anti -submarine
patrol in the Tarkhankutzki area. .

While the armed fishing vessels did not detect
anything, submarine chaser No, 106 again located
the wreck of the submarine which was sunk on
22 December. More oil was seen on the sea.
This may be taken as confirmation that the
submarine was sunk.

About 0800 submarine chasers Nos » 101 and 106
were attacked by enemy planes about 10 miles
south of Eupatoria. No damage. Our fighters
shot down 2 planes. At 1745 the same submarine

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CONFIDENTIAL

chasers were attacked by an enemy submarine about
35 miles. west of Eupatoria, Two explosions
occurred about 150 or 75 meters ahead of No. 106.
The submarine chaser outmaneuvered the torpedoos.
No locations.

South Coast Crimea;

Naval ferry barges P 152
the Sevastopol-Yalta rou
found no mines. They w
Yalta and Balaklava to b
then to proceed via rout
On passage, the boats wi
gear, 10-meter pendant,
place will be marked and
transmitted. The boats
passage.

, P 301 and P 335 swept
te with oropesa gear but
ere ordered to sail from
e at Brown 4 at 1600 and
e Brown to Theodosia.
11 sweep with oropesa
If mines are found, the
a Most Immediate report
will then continue

At 1115 an enemy submarine attack was made on
Ivan Baba harbor. Two. torpedoes were fired but
they ran ashore outside the E-boat harbor and
failed to explode* At 1130 6 boats of 1st
E-Boat .Flotilla sailed on anti-submarine patrol.
Depth charges were . dropped twice without result.

U-boat Situati on ;

Nothing to report.

Mine-sweeping Activity;

At 0700 5 boats of 3rd Motor Minesweeper Flotilla
which were operating In the southwestern minefield
gap at Sevastopol had to return to port because of
the weather (LIE winds, force 5),

Four FZ-boats carried out check sweeps for
standard mines off Cape Tarkhankutzki without
result.

The minesweeping planes have now completed their
operations off Cape Tarkhankutzki, Nothing
further to report except a. mine which was swept
on 13 December about 150 meters west of
Tarkhankutzki lighthouse. It may be assumed
that the area is free of mines. It has been
swept 24 times, which In our experience is
sufficient.

Su Pply_T raffle j

The following convoys were at sea off the west
coast of the Crimea and in the western Black Sea:

a. Towed convoy consisting of 5 tugs and a lighter,
3 motor vessels and 4 naval ferry barges with
an escort of 4 submarine chasers and 1 D-boat

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SECURITY INFORMATION

-114-

CONFIDENTIAL

proceeding from Odessa to Ak Mechet.

b. The Sevastopol-Odessa towed convoy which was
dispersed in fog off Eupatoria on 25 December
sailed from Ak Mechet to Odessa at 1430.

c. The "Prodromos", i!Kassa" and "Shell I" convoy
is proceeding from Constantza to Sevastopol*
"Shell Ist had to be taken in tow by "Rosita"
because of engine failure.

d. Pour motor minesweepers, 1 submarine chaser,
"Danubius" and "G-eiserich" are proceeding
from Sevastopol to Constantza.

All the convoys proceeded without enemy
interference •

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'SECURITY INFORMATION -115-

CONFIDENTIAL

28 December, 1945

Simferopol

Enemy Situation :

Because of the danger of icing~up, night
reconnaissance planned for the northeastern
Black Sea had to be canceled. No enemy shipping
was detected in the course of daylight air
reconnaissance in very good visibility between
the central and eastern Black Sea.

Main Naval D/F Station reported continuous enemy
air reconnaissance by 3 reconnaissance planes
and 4 torpedo bombers over the west coast of the
Crimea during the forenoon and afternoon. The
planes detected two of our submarine chasers
souths outhwest of Tarkbankutzki and a convoy
about_ 13 miles southsouthwest of Cape Khersonese.

In the afternoon, Main Naval d/f Station reported
no enemy naval forces except 2 submarines in
unidentified positions.

During the evening, 2 minesweepers and 1 motor
gunboat were detected off the southern part of
the east coast and another motor gunboat off the
northern part. No change as regards naval
surface forces.

A radio intercept report stated that at 1655
Main Naval D/F Station obtained a bearing of
249° on a submarine. Two other submarines were
detected, one 22 miles westsouthwest of Eupatoria
and one between the central and eastern Black
Sea.

Own Situations

Weather forecast

Ak Mechet and Theodosia - Kerch °. NE - E winds,
force 5-6, cloudy, visibilit3r 6-10 miles,
sea 4.

Yalta; E winds, force 2-3, cloudy,
visibility 10 miles, sea 2,

Qj-lJ-.^Pil AftA .Kerch Strait :

a. The naval ferry barges which were at 1 hour's
readiness from 1700 to 0500 in Kamish Burun
had nothing to report.

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b • Land Si tuajb i on i

Morning: Last night German and enemy patrol
and assault detachments were active on the
northern front, while in the Baksy beachhead
there was lively enemy artillery and mortar
fire .

Evening; All quiet on the northern front.
Moderate artillery and mortar fire at the
Baksy beachhead. Heavy raiding by enemy
ground attack planes. Our raiding bombers
met strong enemy fighter and anti-aircraft
opposition at Kolonka.

Operations for bhe night of 28/29 Decembers

'Three naval ferry barges of 1st Landing Craft
Flotilla, Kerch were ordered to stand on and
off in Kerch Strait between Chongelek and Kamish
Burun during the coming night. They will sail
from Kamish Burun at 2000, returning at 0530.

Situation and duties as in orders of 24 December,

Naval Gunnery Detachment 613 was ordered to
neutralize any enemy batteries which fired on
our boats.

The naval ferry barges were in position at the
prescribed time. Two engines in naval ferry
barge F 342 failed and she had tp return to
Kamish Burun. At 2345 there were only 2 naval
ferry barges on patrol.

Western B lack _Sea s

Kherson reported moderate shelling of the town
and machine -gunfire and rifle fire exchanges.

During the night it was observed in Ochakov that
the Russians were directing machine -gunfire at
the 15 0-ton crane and tug "Wachau" which ran
aground off Ochakov. From 0240 to 0400, Russian
searchlights lit up the jetty and the roads.
An attempt was made to refloat the tug and the
crane during the night of 27/28 December, but it
failed" because the tugs had too deep a draft,
the equipment was inadequate, the Russian and
Rumanian crows "wore not satisfactory, and the
boats wore frequently picked up by enemy search-
lights. Enemy artillery and machine -gunfire
w ere also e no oun t e r e d ,

Submarine chasers Nos . 2301, 2307 and 2308,
which were at sea west of Tarkhankutzki, were
ordered to break off their anti-submarine patrol
and put in to Ak Mechet, as it was impossible to

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use search gear In NE winds, force 5-6 and

sea 4. At 1400 the vessels put in to Ak Mechet.

The hunt for the submarine which was attacked by
submarine chasers Nos. 101 and 106 on 27 December
has so far been without result. Nothing has
been detected.

The 3 naval ferry barges to be transferred to
Kamlsh Burun swept the Yalta-Theodosia route with
oropesa gear, 10-meter pendant. No mines were
found.

U-boat Situation;

U-boat base, Constantza reported that U 20 will
be ready to put out not on 28 December, but on
30 December.

Mine sweeping Activity :

Five boats of 3rd Motor Minesweeper Flotilla
continued sweeping the southwestern minefield gap
at Sevastopol, No mines swept. Another 5-6
days will complete the work on the southwestern
minefield gap.

Five FZ-boats made check sweeps in Sevastopol Bay
without result.

Sup ply Traffic ;

a. At 1415 "Murgescu", "Chlculescu", motor mine-
sweeper R 197 and submarine chaser No. 2301
put In to Sevastopol with "Kassa" and
"Prodromos" from the Constantza-Sevastopol
convoy. Motor minesweeper R 209 and "Rosita"
are still escorting steamer "Shell I" which
developed engine trouble and had to be taken In
tow. At 1553 "Shell I" was in air grid square
1835. Her engine is still faulty. The tow
line broke several times in ENE winds, force
6-7, and submarine chasers Nos. 101 and 103
and "Ship 19" were sent out to assist and
reinforce the escort.

b. Submarine chasers Nos, 307 and 308, which "were
escorting "StdJrtebecker and "Irene" from the
Odossa-Ak Mechet towed convoy, part of which
was dispersed in bad weather, have not yet
arrived In Ak Mechet.

c. The Ak Mcchot-Odessa towed convoy entered
■Odessa according to plan. The "Danubius" and

, • . "Oeiserich" convoy from Sevastopol arrived

safely at its port of destination, Constantza.

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SrCURITY INFORMATION -113-

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De c erab e v? 1.945

Simferopol

Enemy Situation :

There was no night reconnaissance because of
the weather. No enemy shipping was sighted in
the course of daylight air reconnaissance over
the entire Black Sea.

At about 1200 1 small and 2 large vessels were
reported by a reconnaissance plane about 25
miles northwest of Ak Mechot. This was
probably the submarine chaser and 2 vessels
which sailed from Ak Mechet to go to the
assistance of motor vessel "StBrtebecker"
which is drifting under sail 30 miles southwest
of Ta rkhanku t zk I .

Main Naval d/f Station Reports :

Main Naval d/f Station, Eupatoria reported few
detections and no exact details of positions.
During the forenoon, 2 M.T.B.s and 1 motor
gunboat were intercepted off the northern part
of the east coast. In the evening and during
the night, there was slight activity of small
vessels. No change between the central and
northern parts of the east coast, but 1 M.T.B.
and 1 minesweeper were detected off the
southern part.

Only 1 submarine was deduced to be In the
operational area. Another submarine was
detected returning to port, position unknown*

The assumption that there is now only 1 sub-
marine in the northwestern Black Sea Is probably
not correct. The small number of bearings is
more likely to be duo to the fact that tho
boats are maintaining radio silence.

On the other hand, It may bo assumed with a fair
degree of certainty that, in comparison with the
time when tho enemy was evidently aware of our
temporary plan to evacuate the Crimea, tho
number of enemy 'submarines operating against our
convoys to the Crimea has considerably decreased,
At that time about 3 submarines were detected
each da;/.

Own Situations

We a the r f or e ca s t :

Entire Crimean coast; NE ~ E winds, force 3-4,
In tho north force 5, very cloudy, visibility

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SECURITY INFORMATION -119-

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10 - 15 miles after early morning mist, sea 2-3.

Crimea and Kerch Strait;

a. Nothing to report from the boats on patrol in
Kerch Strait during the night of 28/29
December. The naval ferry barges entered
Kara I s h Bur tin at 05 3 0 «

b« Land Situation;

Morning; During the night, only slight
Ineffective patrol activity by the enemy on
the northern and eastern fronts.

Evening; An enemy attack carried out south
of Hill 17.4 on the northern front was
repulsed. The enemy also shelled the area
near Hill 17.6, the main defense line in the
eastern part of the Tartar Ditch and the area
near Armiansk and Chulga.

At the Baksy beachhead, there was lively enemy
fire from heavy artillery in the area north of

Bulganak,

There will be no operations in Kerch Strait
during the coming night. The naval ferry barges
In Kamish Burun will be at 1 hour's readiness
from 1700 to 05 00 on 30 December.

Attempts to tow off the 150-ton crane and tug
"Wachau" from the western tip of Kimburn
Peninsula have so far been unsuccessful* A new
attempt "had to be postponed because of the
weather (HE winds, force 5 - 7).

At 15 00 3 submarine chasers of 23rd Submarine
Chaser Flotilla sailed from Ak Mechet for anti-
submarine patrol in Eupatoria Bay. The boats
were ordered to meet motor vessel "Irene" at
1900. "Irene." lost contact with the Odossa-Ak
Mechet towed convoy.

Commander, Convoys and Escorts, Black Sea
reported that submarine chaser No. 2304 had been
allocated to the submarine chaser force of
Adm Ira 1 , Bla ck Sea.

Naval. Shore Commander, Caucasus proposed trans-
ferring naval ferry barge (mines) P 446 from
Sevastopol to Theodosia to replace naval ferry
barge (mines) P 445 which is lying in Theodosia
waiting for repairs. After being relieved,
probably on 31 December, P 445 will be trans-
ferred to Sevastopol for repairs.

CpiWIDWnJa,

SECURITY INFORMATION -120-

CONFIDENTIAL

Minefield charts captured from Russian vessels,
which we shot apart at Eltlgen, show that -there
are several small enemy minefields between
Brown 17 and Red 17, The route to Kerch must
be kept open for our own traffic and It will be
necessary to check the route and sweep any mines
found there.

Naval ferry barges P 301, P 132, P 335, which
sailed from Theodosia at 1400 to relieve the
boats lying in Kamish Burun, were ordered to
sweep the route from Theodosia to Chongelek
with oropesa gear, 5-meter pendant, in open
formation. The channel between the approach
buoy for Kerch Strait and Gape Takil is to be
swept twice in both directions. The boats will
navigate to the precise boundaries of the channel.
If mines are discovered, the place should be
marked, the depth setting of the mines ascertained
if possible, and a Most Immediate report trans-
mitted. After carrying out this operation, the
boats will enter Kamish Burun where the naval
ferry barges will be under the command of Admiral,
Black Sea for operations in Kerch Strait.

As the E-boat operation off the north Caucasus
coast during the night of 24/25 December had to
be abandoned about 18 00 because of bad weather
(ME winds, force 5), I have decided to repeat
the operation tonight, when the weather will be
favorable for E~boats,

Pour boats of 1st E-Boat Flotilla were ordered
to sail from Ivan Bab a at 1500, At 0300 the
boats will wait close to the coast between Gape
Utrich and Utrlch Nok.

Operational orders will be as for 24/25 December
Including the surprise shelling of the port of
Anapa,

1st Air Corps has been requested to provide night
reconnaissance planes to cover the sound of the
E-boats ' approach to Anapa and to drop flares
over the target,

U-boat Situati on i

No enemy shipping was sighted by U 19- in the
operational area' off Ochemchiri or by U 23 in
the operational area off Poti .

Mine sweeping Ac tiylty s

Five boats of 3rd Motor Minesweeper Flotilla
swept the southwestern minefield gap at
Sevastopol. No mines swept.

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Six FZ-boats ma do a check sweep for ground mines
off the entrance to Sevastopol. No mines were
swept in 24 sweeps .

Sup p ly JTra ff lc i

Parts of the towed convoys, which have been
proceeding close to the Crimean coast on the last
few days, entered their ports of destination.

Motor vessel nSt8rtebeckern5 belonging to the
Odessa-Ak Mechet towed convoy, Is drifting under
sail about 30 miles southwest of Tarkhankutzki
and has not yet put in to port* Three submarine
chasers have been ordered to go to her assistance.
Nothing to report from the other convoys.

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CONFIDENTIAL

50 December, 1945

Simferopol

Enemy Situation z

Only a few vessels were sighted by night
reconnaissance over the northeastern Black Sea
and west of the Crimea,

During the day 'no enemy shipping was detected
in the central and western Black Sea,

A Turkish freighter was sighted close to the
Turkish coast near Samsun.

Main Naval p/F Station nRe ports :

At noon, Main Naval D/P Station located a mine-
sweeper off the southern part of the east coast.
During the evening, 2 more minesweepers were
detected In the same area. Apart from the move-
ments of these ships which continued during the
night, there was nothing to report.

As the enemy submarines are maintaining radio
silence, only 1 submarine was located, about 50
miles northeast of Constantza. It Is assumed
that there is another submarine in the
Eupatoria-Tarkhankutzki operational area.

Own Situation! ;

Wo a the r fore ca s t :

E winds, force 5 - 4, mainly overcast, light
showers, visibility 4-8 miles, sea 2 - 5.

During the second half of the night SW - W winds,
force 6-7 generally.

C r 1 m e a_ _a n cl _K er c h S t r ajjjb :

a. Three naval ferry barges which are on transfer
to Kamish Bvirun swept the Theodosia-Kerch
route with oropesa gear. No mines swept.
At 0150 a naval ferry barge had an engagement
with an enemy motor gunboat which escaped in
fog. Hits were observed. Our boats returned
safely to Kamish Burun. From 1100 - 1400,
Kamish Burun was shelled by 11 enemy guns of
medium and heavy caliber on Cape Tuszla,
Naval ferry barges were damaged by splinters
and 4 men were injured.

Kamish Burun was again shelled between 2000
and 22 00.

COCTIDSNTIAL

SECURITY INFORMATION -123-

CONFIDENTIAL

4th Battery, Naval Gunnery Detachment 613
damaged an enemy vessel which had to be taken
in tow.

It is striking that the enemy immediately
discovered that there were more ships in port
at Kamish Burun when the relief boats for the
naval ferry barges awaiting repair arrived
and therefore shelled the base. There wore
no air raids, probably because of the accurate
anti-aircraft fire. It will therefore not be
possible, so long as naval ferry barges are
based in Kamish Burun, to withdraw the anti-
aircraft guns as planned by 9th Anti-Aircraft
Division, 9th Ant i -Aircraft Division was
informed accordingly and has agreed with
Admiral, Black Sea,

10 • Land Situation „•

Morning:. No important activity on the fronts.
An enemy patrol was repulsed at tho Baksy
beachhead and naval patrols were driven off
northwest of Martini Peninsula,

Evenings Strong enemy artillery fire at the
Baksy beachhead, rising to an intense barrage
at times.. All quiet on the, northern front.

Operations for tho night of 30/ol December:

Naval ferry barges F 342, F 401 and F 578 of 1st
Landing Craft Flotilla, Kerch wore ordered to
sail at 1700 for tho patrol line between
Chongelek and Kamish Burun. Their task will bo
to attack enemy forces and prevent landings.
If the enemy is sighted a Most IQnmodlate report
is to be transmitted •

The boats will return to Theodosia from the. patrol
line. On return passage, they will pass the
approach buoy at Kerch Strait, at 0200, proceed
via route Brown, keeping strictly within the
fairway because of the danger of mines and
avoiding the short cut off Cape Takil,

In Theodosia the naval ferry barges will still bo
under the direct command of Admiral, Black Sea,
(Sec War Diary 25 December, paras, a, and b,)

^L° £l~ p P.n Bla ck Sea %

Kherson reported artillery exchanges and machine-
gunfire , Otherwise no change. In the Ochakov
sector, artillery and mortar fire exchanges
between Pervomcisk and KImburn,

COMF1 DIEiTIAI

SECURITY INFORMATION -124-

CONFIDENTIAL

The guns of naval gunnery lighter No", 4 which
was towed from Pervomeisk to Ochakov have been
removed and loaded into a lighter for transfer
to Odessa. Naval gunnery lighter No. 4 is
being temporarily caulked for transfer to
Odessa .

At 1130 submarine chasers Nos. 2501, 2307 and
2308 put in to Sevastopol to take in new
equipment and fuel for anti-submarine patrol.

Last night 1st E-Boat Flotilla was in lurking
position off Cape Utrich 1.8 miles from the
coast from. 1855 to 2515, No enemy shipping
was observed. At crawling speed close to the
coast the boats proceeded to 1,500 meters north
of the port of Anapa, After our night reconn-
aissance planes had dropped flares, the E-boats
reported that the port and roads were empty*
Even at the mole there were no ships to be seen.
The port was therefore not bombarded. At 0245
the boats commenced return passage and put in
to Ivan Baba at 0545.

U-boat base, Constantza reported that the firing
rod of one of TJ 20 's torpedo tubes was broken
and that sailing had to bo postponed until
1 January.

Mine swe oping Ac t i vi ty ;

At 06 00 5 motor minesweepers of 3rd Motor
Minesweeper Flotilla sailed from Sevastopol to
sweep the southwestern minefield gap. From
1000, there wore only 3 boats sweeping, as 2
boats had boon detailed to assist motor vessel
"St8rtobockor" which was drifting 50 miles
southwest of Tarkhankutzki, No mines swept.
Three-quarters of the task has been completed,

FZ -boats made a check swoop for standard mines
on route Green off Sevastopol harbor entrance as
far as the 3 0-metcr line. Sixteen strips 300
meters wide wore swept without result.

Supply Traffic i

a. Steamer "Shell I" put in to Constantza towed
by submarine chaser No. 106, She was one of
the ships belonging to the Crimea convoys which
were dispersed in bad weather a few days ago.
Motor vessel "Stttrtebeckor" is proceeding to
Sevastopol towed by motor minesweeper R 208
and will presumably put in there at 06 00.

CONFIDENTIAL

INFORMATION -125-

Com? IDENTICAL

b. Three more convoys and 1 towed convoy off the
west coast of the Crimea ran as scheduled -
without enemy interference*

CONFIDEifiTAL

SECURITY INFORMATION -126-

CONFIDENTIAL

31 December. 1945

Simferopol

Enemy Situation:

During the night, reconnaissance was flown over
the Black Sea as far as Sochi without sighting
the enemy. Ho enemy shipping was detected In
the course of daylight air reconnaissance over
the entire Black Sea. One Turkish freighter
was sighted off Gape Bafra in Turkish terri-
torial waters. Perry traffic was observed in
Kerch Strait off Cape Chroni.

Main Naval p/p Station Reports :

No activity of surface forces could be detected
from fleet radio traffic which began in the
evening. Apart from 1 mine swe'e per off the oast
coast of the Black Sea, nothing was detected.

No important radar bearings were taken by Main
Naval D/P Station. One submarine was detected
in the northwestern Black Sea and another is
assumed to bo off the west coast of the Crimea,
One submarine Is thought to bo returning to
port, position unknown.

Own Situation i

Weather forecasts

W - NW winds, force 5 - 6, squally, cloudy at
times, showers, otherwise visibility 15 miles,

sea 4 - 5.

Crimea and Kerch Strait

a. The attention of Naval Shore Commanders,
Crimea and Caucasus, Commander, Convoys and
Escorts, Black Sea, 1st E-Boat Flotilla, 3rd
Motor Mine sweeper Flotilla and 1st Landing
Craft Flotilla, Kerch has again been drawn
to the fact that there must be absolutely no
relaxation of watchfulness or operational
readiness" during the New Year days. It Is
on critical days such as these that Increased
attention is required.

b. Our patrols In Kerch Strait did not encounter
the enemy. As bad weather is forecast for
the entire Crimean coast in the second half
of the night (SW to W winds, towards morning
W to NW winds, force 6 - 7), the naval ferry
barges received orders at 2500 to abandon
operations immediately and return to Kamish
Burun Instead of Theodosia,

IF0BMATI0N -127-

CONFIDENTIAL

c* Land Situation :

Morning: Enemy patrol activity on both fronts.
Strong enemy forces entrenched on the Baksy
front. The enemy is probably expecting a
German attack. The reason for the increased
ferry traffic across Kerch Strait is probably
because the enemy Is building up stocks before
the Strait freezes.

A large-scale operation against partisans in
the Jaila mountains restricted the partisans
to the forest south of Baksan. Little
resistance was encountered.

Evening: Enemy patrols were repulsed on the
northern front. Artillery fire slight
generally, strong locally. Otherwise nothing
to report,

d, The port of Kamish Burun and the batteries of
Naval Gunnery Detachment 615 were shelled
several times from Cape Tuszla, the fish-
salting factory and Panaghia.

Operations for tho night of 51 Dccember/l January:

As special watchfulness is required on New Year's
night, 1st Landing Craft Flotilla, Kerch has been
ordered to patrol in Kerch Strait during the whole
night. At 2000 5 naval ferry barges will sail
from Kamish Burun and will stand on and off
between Chongclek and Karnlsh Burun until dawn.

Task: To attack enemy forces and prevent landing
operations. If the enemy Is sighted a Most
Immediate report should bo transmitted.

The naval ferry barges sailed for the patrol line
at the prescribed time. At 2250 they were
shelled by tho Tuszla batteries and caught in
searchlights operated at Taman, At the same
time a noise of engines was heard at sea, but
nothing was picked up by the searchlights of
Naval Gunnery Detachment 615,

Weste rn Black Sea :

NW winds., force 5 - 6, Increasing in squalls.

Naval Port Commander, Nikolaiev was ordered to do
everything possible to salvage the 150-ton crane
which had run aground off Kimburn point, Tho
water may be deeper in this weather. The
buoyancy of the crane and the damage Inflicted by
ar tiller;/ will have to be examined and reported,
Tho crane is not to be blown up yet, as the enemy
is still not In a position to salvage It, and
there is also a possibility that we may be able
to salvage the crane later.

CONFIDENTIAL

SECUEITI INFORMATION -123-

CONFIDENTIAL

Pour out of 5 naval ferry barges proceeding from
Sevastopol to Ak. Mechet had to put in to
Eupatoria because of the weather (W winds,
force 7). The fifth ferry barge - P 562 - ran
aground off Belyaus. Tug "Theben1' and submarine
chasers Nos . 504 and 505 vrent to her assistance
from Eupatoria, The search had to be abandoned
as the ferry barge could not. be found in the
darkness. The search will continue at daybreak.

'Two submarine chasers, D 9, "Orion", "Lobau" and
"Evert jo" of the Ak Mechet-Sevastopol towed
convoy put in to Eupatoria. D 9 ran aground
between Eupatoria and Mainak, The rest of tho
towed convoy, consisting of "Budapest", 2 tugs
with lighters and 2 submarine chasers is
proceeding to Sevastopol. Up to now it has not
been possible to refloat D 9 because of the
weather.

At 0215 4 naval ferry barges put in to Sevastopol
from Ak Mechet. In this convoy naval ferry
barge P 516 ran aground in the north bay. At
0800 she was towed off. As she had sprung a
leak, she was taken to the slipway.

Motor vessel "StBrtebcckcr", which was towed in
on 50 December by motor minesweeper R 208,
anchored in Suohaya Bay. At 2500 "StBrtobeckoru
was drifting with her anchor In a westerly gale.
R 208 wont to her aid and both boats ran aground
on the north shore of the bay. R 208 Is fast
between large rocks, compartments 5 and 4 are
flooded. Salvage attempts will bo made
immediately.

At 1000 "Sttfrtobeckor" was refloated and towed
In. Minor damage only. Although R 208 has
boen lightened, attempts at refloating have so
far proved unsuccessful. She is being
continually driven against the rocks and is
heavily damaged.

U-boat Situa t ion t

Nothing to report.

There was no mine sweeping because of the weather,
(W winds, force 5 - 6.)

Supply; Traffic :

a. Convoys were seriously delayed by the gale
which rose at midnight. Ships could not be
saved from running aground because when tho
gale warnings wore transmitted all the convoys
wore at sea.

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During December 1943, 33,853 tons of supplies
were sent to the Crimea. • The actual amount
brought over was 11,147 tons short of the
target figure of 45,000 tons. The principal
reason for this was the bad use which the
Army made of the shipping placed at its
disposal. 17th Army H.Q. has been asked to
remedy this (see War Diary 21 December,
section b « ) •

(Signed) Brinkmann.

SECURITY "INFORMATION -130-

None
7
1

None

9 attacks
(74 planes)

14 attacks
(62 -planes)

o
1

CONFIDENTIAL

Survey for December JL945

A • Enemy opera tions :

1. Submarine attacks;

a. With guns

b. With torpedoes

c. On naval shore installations

2. Attacks by surface forces:

3. Air raids %

a, On naval shore installations
and ports ;

b . On vessels :

4. Planes shot down;

a. By naval shore batteries:

b. By ship's anti-aircraft guns:
B • Own opera tions :

1. Submarine chasers:

12 submarine chasers. 1 submarine sunk for
certain, another probably sunk,

2. Motor minesweepers:

5 motor minesweepers in 26 patrol lines in 6 days'
operations. No successes,

6 motor minesweepers on mine sweeping operations
in 12 days' operations. No mines swept,

5, E-boats;

6 E-beats each of which carried out 6 offensive
"operations against the Caucasus coast. No
successes ,

5' E-boats in 7 patrol lines In 2 days. No
successes,

4, Naval ferry barges:

9 ferry barges in 73 operations on 18 days,
2 gunboats, 1 tug, 1 lighter, 2 fishing smacks,
1 barge, 2 rafts and 11 landing craft sunk with
the cooperation of shore batteries.

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1 gunboat, 1 landing craft damaged, 18 prisoners
of war,

5, U-boats':

4 U-boats, 55 days at sea. No successes,

C * Own lo sj5<3s :

1, Total losses:

a. Naval forces: 5 naval ferry barges

1 submarine chaser

1 harbor defense boat.

b. Steamers: None,

c. Tugs, lighters etc.: 2 lighters of 1,350 tons,

2. Damaged: None.

D, ' Mine s ;

1. Swept or destroyed by

gunfire: 2 standard mines,

2, Mines laid: 1 minefield of 58 mines.

E . Supply Traffic :

1. Naval vessels escorted: 7.

2. Merchant ships:

a. In convoy: 182 vessels totaling

173,286 G-.R.T.

b. Unescorted: 9 vessels totaling

1,896 G.R.T.

c. 98 naval ferry barges totaling 9,800 G.R.T.

For activity report 1943, Admiral, Black Sea, see
Appendix,

(Signed ) Brihkmann ,

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SECURITY INFORMATION -132-

CONFIDENTIAL

APPENDIX I
Activity Report 194o, Admiral , Black Sea

•*- * Ge^neral revi ew :

The predominant feature of 1942 was the extension of
the territory under our control and the consequent
building up of naval forces, reconstruction of newly
captured bases and erection of gun batteries to
defend our occupied coastline. In 1943, however,
the conduct of the war under command of Admiral,
Black Sea was dictated by the withdrawal of the Army
fronts* The duties arising from this comprised
patrols, evacuation and convoying* The principle
behind such duties was In all cases, even in
offensive operations, to support the Army.

1st Period: January - March: Withdrawal of the
Caucasus frontlines to the Gotenkopf
position and the defense line east of
Taganrog.

_?PA ~P.ei?A0A ° April - August: Defense of the

Gotenkopf bridgehead and the Taganrog
line.

3rd Period; September - October: Withdrawal from
the Gotenkopf bridgehead and from the
north coast of the Sea of Azov to the
Dnieper.

4th Period: November - December: Defense of the
isolated fortress of the Crimea. .

During those periods Admiral, Black Sea worked In

close cooperation with Army Group A and 17th Army

H'.Q* with the object of giving the Army full Support.

The following is a more detailed' report on these
periods :

Period 1

After the loss of Rostov, our troops returning from
the Caucasus front had to be transported across Kerch
Strait to the Crimea. The Army retained a bridge-
head covering Taman Peninsula and adjacent territory
and extending along a lino Novorossisk-Krimskaya-
Tomriuk, This bridgehead served to assemble the
troops and concentrate the material to be withdrawn.
The withdrawal across Kerch Strait commenced at the
end of January when the ice melted. The first duty
of Admiral, Black Sea was to make an adequately
marked channel through the minefields and then to
ferry the Army across in cooperation with the
combined operations boats.

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In an all-out operation lasting until the end of
March, we succeeded in ferrying over all the troops
and supplies not required for the defense of the
Kuban bridgehead, which was firmly held in the face
of strong enemy counter-action - especially from the
air. An enemy landing attempt in the rear of our
own frontline near Oseraika valley, northwest of
Novorossisk, failed. The enemy did however succeed
in establishing a beachhead in Novorossisk Bay and
extending it to reach the open sea beyond the bay.
Sea supplies to this beachhead at My shako were
repeatedly and successfully attacked by our E-boats.
The landing places were effectively bombarded by our
E-boats and motor minesweepers, and vessels lying at
jetties were torpedoed by E-boats.

Five shallow minefields were laid in the southern
part of Kerch Strait to protect our ferry traffic
against enemy surface forces. Enemy planes
attempted to stop the ferry traffic by laying mines
(standard mines, ground mines and horned moored
mines) in Kerch Strait. Continuous check sweeps
of the channels prevented large-scale losses.

By the end of March, the evacuation from the
G-otenkopf bridgehead was completed. The following
had been ferried across in naval vessels and
combined operations boats;

105,000 men
45,000 horses

7,000 motor vehicles
12,000 horse-drawn vehicles.

Period J3

At the beginning of March, the Gotenkopf bridgehead
was firmly in our hands and the forces of 17th Army
H.Q. required a continuous stream of supplies-. At
first Army Group A asked for a daily turnover of
1,500 tons, but then raised their demands to 2,500
tons a day and from July to 4,000 tons a day. In
order to relieve the embarkation points on the
eastern shore of Kerch Strait (Taman, Senaya, fish-
packing plant) and also to save motor vehicles and
fuel, it became necessary to sail convoys as close
to our frontlines as possible. In the face of
considerable danger, especially on the route to
Anapa, which was exposed to the attacks of superior
naval surface forces, and which was only 45 miles
away from the nearest enemy base (Ghelenjik),
despite numerous air raids, submarine attacks and
repeated minelaying in the convoy channels, our
convoys kept up a full stream of supplies until the
Kuban bridgehead was evacuated. On the particularly
dangerous Kerch-Anapa route, naval ferry barges made
191 crossings, carrying 61,717 tons.

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Perry traffic in Kerch Strait was especially
vulnerable to air attack. Considerable numbers of
enemy planes carried out attacks practically every
day against transports and landing places in an
effort to bring traffic to a standstill. Russian
planes laid ELM mines with induction firing and
-moored mines, thus forcing our ships to keep to
certain channels which had to be swept continuously.

After reoccupying the ports of Yeisk and Akhtari, the
enemy brought heavily armed, fast motor gunboats into
the Sea of Azov for the purpose of striking at our
supplies from Kerch and Genichesk to Temriuk. To
eliminate this danger at the source, our own forces of
naval gunnery lighters, motor minesweepers and motor
minesweepers (RA) made repeated attacks on the enemy
bases at Akhtari, Yeisk and Achuevski. These
attacks were effective.

1st E-Boat Flotilla and 3rd Motor Minesweeper
Flotilla carried out many successful operations
against enemy shipping going to the My shako beachhead.
While the unsuccessful fighting to mop up the beach-
head was going on during April, our boats sank 15
boats, 3 coastal freighters of 750 tons, 3 lighters
and 2 ammunition barges off Myshako, thereby
considerably relieving the pressure on the Army.

Naval gunnery lighters and naval ferry barges
patrolled outside Temriuk Bay and along the northern
coast of the Taman Peninsula, repeatedly driving off
enemy ships which approached our coast.

Everything possible was done in the way of trans-
portation and defense of the shipping lanes to ensure
that the monthly supplies of Army Group were safely
brought across the sea. Prom March until the with-
drawal from the Kuban bridgehead, the target figure
for convoy supplies was reached and at times
exceeded.

Prom March to August, the following were carried by
the Navy from Kerch, G-e niche sk and Theodosia to Taman,
Sonaya, Anapa and Temriuk:

Stores 337,353 tons

Personnel 6,365

Horses 2,566

Motor vehicles 1,099

Horse-drawn vehicles 534

Guns 197

Apart from these convoys which ran to the Kuban
bridgehead, once the ice melted in Taganrog Bay
supplies were also sent by sea from Mariupol to
Taganrog for the extreme right flank of the Army.
These convoys, which were kept up until the
evacuation of Taganrog in mid-August, delivered a
total of 29,449 tons of supplies.

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In June naval gunnery lightens and naval ferry barges
were transferred from Mariupol to Taganrog for the
defense of the northern shore of Taganrog Bay.
Enemy landings on our own weakly occupied shore in
the rear of the frontline were prevented by continuous
patrols and by the bombardment of the Russian base of
Yeiskt • Naval gunnery lighters relieved the pressure
on our troops by bombarding the enemy front in the
inner- part- of Taganrog Bay,

Period 5

On 7 September, the evacuation of the Kuban bridge-
head began. With strong naval protection of the
flanks In the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea, with-
drawals were carried out according to plan* Enemy
.landings In the rear of our frontlines were all
frustrated. About 400 men landed on the north
Tarnan coast but were soon annihilated by the Army,

On 9 October, the last troops wore ferried over from
Kossa Chushka. Not a single man was loft behind.
All valuable material was evacuated. In 34 days
naval ships and combined operations boats carried
the following men and material from the Kuban bridge-
head:

Personnel 202,447

Horses ' 54,664

Cattle 6,019

Motor vehicles 15,237
Horse-drawn vehicles 2 0,6 00

Guns 1,196

Service supplies 94,937 tons.

This evacuation by sea, successfully carried out
without large losses, was completed by tho with-
drawal of about 240 vessels engaged in the operation
through Kerch Strait to Sevastopol. On 10 October,
the vessels entered Sevastopol in 5 large convoys,
escorted by all available U-boats, E-boats, naval
■ gunnery lighters and motor minesweepers. Despite
continuous air raids and one submarine attack, only
1 naval ferry barge and 1 combined operations forry
were lost.

At the same time as the evacuation of the Kuban
bridgehead, the withdrawal of our front on the
northern shore of the Sea of Azov began. Until the
evacuation of Cenichesk, naval gunnery lighters and
naval ferry barges acted as a cover for the Army
withdrawal. They repeatedly bombarded the advanced
enemy frontline and shelled enemy rear concentrations.

Period 4

By the end of October, communications between tho
Crimea and the mainland were cut. The enemy
attempted to capture the Crimea quickly by launching

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a concentrated offensive on the Perekop isthmus and
simultaneous landings north and south of Kerch, In
addition to Naval Gunnery Detachment 614 and the
units of Naval Fort Commanders in the northern Azov
ports, all available naval shore detachments were
withdrawn and detailed to support the Army.

The main task for units afloat was to prevent further
landings of reinforcements at the Baksy beachhead-
north of Kerch and the Eltigen beachhead south of
Kerch. In the northern part of Kerch Strait this
could only be done in the first days following the
landing. When the enemy installed heavy artillery
sites and searchlights on Kossa Chushka, it became
impossible for our naval ferry barges and motor mine-
sweepers to operate In the northern entrance to Kerch
Strait which is only 5,000 meters wide. Full-scale
rninelaying was undertaken by our naval ferry barges,
which suffered losses in an effort to disrupt the
enemy ferry traffic. Prisoners' statements confirm
that the enemy has lost ''ships as a result of our
rninelaying.

All-out operations by our naval ferry barges, motor
minesweepers and E-boats succeeded in blockading the
Eltigen beachhead almost completely during the hours
of darkness. For 5 weeks our patrols repulsed all
enemy attempts to run the blockade. The enemy was
prevented by our shore batteries from bringing
supplies by sea during daylight and was therefore
driven to make the attempt during the long nights.
Our blockade paved the way for mopping up this beach-
head, which was a serious threat to the Kerch-
Theodosia supply route and consequently to Kerch and^
ultimately, to Kerch Peninsula itself. On 4 December,
the Army was able to commence their successful attack
on an enemy handicapped by shortage of supplies. In
the course of the blockade of the Eltigen beachhead
and the sealing off of the enemy forces which broke
out from the beachhead to the north and attempted to
establish a now position on Mitridat Hill south of
Kerch, our naval ferry barges, motor minesweepers and
E-boats in Kerch Strait sank the following vessels in
numerous actions i

8 motor gunboats

2 M.T.B.s
27 landing craft

2 tugs

2 lighters
12 other vessels.

The following were damaged i

12 motor gunboats

2 M.T.B'.s

7 landing craft

1 lighter.

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The majority of the vessels carried soldiers and
material. The losses suffered by the enemy were
therefore important.

Repeated bombardment of landing places at Eltigen
was carried out, thus destroying many vessels and
preventing the enemy from escaping across the sea.
When the beachhead had been recaptured, the
following boats were found on the shore:

3 motor gunboats
24 landing craft

4 harbor picket boats
28 launches and cutters.

Thus a total of 96 vessels was destroyed and 20
vessels were damaged.

The following vessels took part in the blockade of
the beachheads

31 naval ferry barges in 245 operations on 29 days
6 motor minesweepers in 50 operations on 14 days

5 E-boats in 6 0 operations on 17 day_s

Total ' 355 operations-

Our own losses amounted to 8 naval ferry barges.
Two of these ran aground and the rest were sunk by
mines or destroyed in air raids. Fourteen naval
ferry barges and 3 motor minesweepers were damaged
in gun- actions and air raids.

After the capture of the Eltigen beachhead our naval
ferry barges maintained further defensive patrols at
night in the southern part of Kerch Strait,

Next to defense measures, the principal task, of the
Navy is to bring supplies across the sea to the
Crimean outpost. All available naval forces are now
being used as direct and Indirect escorts of trans-
ports. The principal task of those forces is to
drive off attacking planes and engage enemy submarines.

1 z • Offensive Naval Warfare in 1943

In addition to the above-mentioned transport and
escort duties in the interests of the Army, Admiral,
Black Sea deemed It important to employ all suitable
naval forces in offensive operations against the
Russian naval forces and merchant fleet at sea and
in ports within our range. E-boats and U-boats
under the direct command of Admiral, Black Sea were
almost exclusively employed on continuous operations
for this purpose. Motor minesweepers and naval
gunnery lighters were employed on offensive operations
when the opportunity arose. Particularly as a result
of our E-boat and U-boat operations off the Caucasus
coast the enemy has suffered heavy shipping losses,

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and a large-scale landing in the Crimea is now, if
not entirely out of the question, at any rate much
less likely, because the tonnage will not be
available .

The enemy also suffered important losses of material,
especially equipment bound for the Kuban front.
Hence the pressure on the Army, engaged in heavy
fighting, was considerably relieved.

In the fighting for the My shako beachhead, E-boats
and motor minesweepers were repeatedly successful in
attacks on shipping making for the beachhead. Our
boats also shelled vessels at tho landing stages and
destroyed piles of material on the beach.

In the course of numerous offensive operations by our
motor minesweepers and naval gunnery lighters in the
Sea of Azov, the enemy suffered considerable losses.
The harbors of Akhtari, -Yeisk and Achuevski were
attacked and the enemy was obliged to call in troops
originally intended for fighting at the front to
defend those harbors.

The reluctance of the enemy to use' their fleet Is
primarily due to the offensive operations of our
naval forces. The Russians are not willing to
expose their ships to the danger of attack from our
U-boats and E-boats. Hence the desired effect has
been achieved, not to mention the successes In
sinking enemy ships.

Details of our own offensive naval operations are as
follows :.

a» 1st E-Boat Flo til la;

88 operations against enemy shipping off the
Caucasus coast, 3 mine laying • operations off the
Caucasus coast, 50 operations In the defense of
G-erman'-occupiod coasts and the southern entrance
to Kerch Strait and to protect our convoys, 24
anti-landing operations in Kerch Strait and the
Sea of Azov*

Thus the boats of 1st E-Boat Flotilla were out on
operations on 165 days of the year. In those
operations they sank the following vessels:

1 torpodbboat

"1 TuT "P' '(X

.3 motor gunboats

3 landing craft .

1 tanker 7,000 G.R.T.

5 freighters totaling 5,700 G-.R.T.
19 coastal freighters totaling 8,100 G-.R.I.

15 lighters totaling ■ ■>;.; 8,200 G-.R.T.

Total 29,000 G.R.T.

c;p ;^;;ti;!L

SJ^CURTTT INFORMATION -139-

CONFIDENTIAL

b. 50th U-boat Flotilla; .

Throughout the year, the flotilla operated for
the most part in the waters off. the Caucasus
coast concentrating in the southeastern Black
Sea, that Is In the area beyond the range of
our E -boats.

In a total of 30 operations, the boats were at
sea 792 days covering 71,636 miles. They sank
12 vessels, totaling 29,300 G-.R.T., with 63
torpedoes •

Further sinkings; 1 submarine chaser

1 escort vessel (800 tons)
1 patrol boat (100 tons)
1 Q-ship (8 00 tons).

Prisoners stated that the minefield of TMB mines
laid off Poti caused the loss of 2 steamers.

In judging these achievements, the reluctance of
the Soviet Fleet to put to sea should also be
taken into consideration. After large steamers
had been lost, enemy convoys of small ships -
mostly coastal freighters and lighters - took to
sailing close to the Caucasus coast. The shallow
draft of these boats did not make them good targets
for torpodo attacks*

°* Naval Gunnery Lighters and Motor Minesweepers;

18 offensive operations In the Sea of Azov against
enemy ports and Army frontlines. Six attacks
were made on Primorsko Akhtari, 2 on Yeisk and 2
on Achuevski.

The following vessels were sunk In these operations

6 motor gunboats and
5 patrol boats.

One armored train was shot up, and some large fires
were started in enemy ports* and assembly points as
a result of our shelling.

In operations against the My shako beachhead, the
motor minesweepers sank 2 enemy M.T.B.s and
effectively shelled landing stages and vessels.

III. Convoys ;

Apart from the shipping to and from the Kuban bridge-
. head and in the Sea of Azov, carrying supplies and
■eventually taking part in the evacuation, convoys
.-sailed to the Crimea at maximum strength the whole
year through and shipping plied along the west coast
from Nikolaiov to the Bosporus. Because of the
threat of enemy air raids and the serious dangor of

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jUU

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submarines and mines to shipping, all ships had to
sail in strongly escorted convoys, keeping to the
official swept channels. German motor minesweepers,
submarine chasers (armed fishing vessels and naval
transports), naval ferry barges and boats of the
escort flotillas and Rumanian destroyers, torpedo-
boats and gunboats acted as escorts and patrol
vessels. The bad weather in the Black Sea made
extremely exacting demands on the small vessels on
escort duty*

During 1943, 2,050 ships totaling 1,340,469 G.R.T.
were escorted In the Black Sea.

Anti-submarine Operations ;

Although the need for systematic anti-submarine
measures was clearly recognized - especially as the
submarine menace became a very serious problem when
the Crimea was thrown back on the sea routes for its
entire supplies - the shortage of suitable submarine
chasers meant that only limited anti-submarine
operations could be carried out. Until the middle
of the year, Admiral, Black Sea had only 2 ships
equipped with acoustic gear. Prom the middle of the
year more and more armed fishing vessels and
submarine chasers (naval transports) were commissioned
and first employed as ant i i- submarine escorts for
convoys. As more of these ships were available, they
were assembled and employed on systematic submarine
patrol In the waters where enemy submarines were
concentrated. As a result, 1 submarine was sunk in
November, and 2 sunk and 2 more probably damaged in
December. A total of 5 enemy submarines was sunk in
1943.

Mine laying Operation

C3 o

a. In order to protect our shipping lanes off the west
coast of the Crimea, plans were made to lay mine-
fields between Capo Khersonese and Capo St. G-eorge,
Because of the shortage of mines, so far only 3
minefields, comprising 726 moored mines, have been
laid in the east.

b. Three new minefields have been added to the mine-
fields laid in 1941 for the protection of Constantza
because the' former minefields had been thinned out
by rough seas and ice and were no longer effective.

c. Five deep minefields were laid in and near our own
shipping lanes off Sulina, the Bosporus and in
Eupatoria Bay, that is in waters where enemy
submarine operations are concentrated,

d. Throughout the year, Kerch Strait was an important
center of minolaylng activity to prevent enemy
surface forces from' entering the Strait. Twenty

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minefields containing 1,542 moored mines and 306
non-contact mines were laid off the southern and
northern entrances, and, after the evacuation of
the G-otenkopf bridgehead, inside Kerch Strait
itself, as a precaution against enemy landings,

o. Seven minefields containing 904 moored mines were
laid as an anti-landing measure along our own
coastline. A total of 904 moored mines was laid
in places considered likely points for enemy
landings, that is north and south of the bottle-
neck In the bays of Theodosla, Koktebel, Kasantip
and Arabatz •

f, Six offensive minefields were laid in the Sea of
Azov off Akhtari and Yeisk and off the Caucasus
coast near Hovorossisk and Poti.

g. Non-contact mines were laid prior to evacuation
In the ports of Novorossisk, Anapa, Mariupol,
Temriuk and Berdyansk.

In 1945, 50 minefields containing 4,776 mines and
1,119 explosive floats I.e. a total of 5,895 mines
and floats were' laid in the Black Sea and in the
Sea of Azov,

The Rumanian minelayers "Murgescu11 and "Dacia",
minelayer "Romania1', naval ferry barges, motor
minesweepers , E-boats and U-boats took part in
th e s e o pe ra t Ions ,

TV • Mine swe eping_ Acjbivity :

When not required for convoy duties or offensive
operations, the minesweeping flotillas concentrated
on carrying out check sweeps In our shipping lanes
near the Crimea, in Kerch Strait and off the west
coast, and on sweeping minefields discovered in these
channels, Kerch Strait was the center of mine-
sweeping activity. Here the enemy dropped ELM/ J
mines and moored mines from planes to cut off our
supplies to the Kuban bridgehead. Because of
repeated minelaying In the shipping lanes to Anapa,
it became necessary for our naval ferry barge convoys
to sail with anti-mine escort. These tasks made
heavy demands on the crews in areas where there was
a great danger of air attacks.

As small minefields which had been laid by submarines
off the Crimea and off the west coast were continually
being discovered, all convoys were provided with anti-
mine escort. In order to' make a short cut In tho
Sevastopol-Cons tantza route and to sail convoys on
different routes as much as possible, a northwestern
gap was swept through the Russian danger area off
Sevastopol, Sweeping of a southwestern gap was
commenced in December •

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The mines which were swept in our shipping lanes ^
near the Crimea and the -west coast confirmed that
the enemy also used submarines for minelaying.

The Russians have certainly made important
progress in submarine training in the past year.
Some of the numerous attacks on our convoys have
demonstrated good leadership. Enemy submarines,
which are still strong in numbers, will therefore
be a growing danger to our shipping.

During 1943, 82 submarine attacks were made on
our convoys and naval vessels, causing the loss
of

4 naval ferry barges

5 steamers totaling 20,064 G.R.T.
I lighter of 500 G.R.T.

2 0,564 G-.R.T.

Air Forces

Enemy planes were extremely active throughout the
year. Possessing superiority in numbers, the
enemy was able to carry out continuous reconn-
aissance of our bases and of every mile of the
waters in the north1// est or n Black Sea and along
the coast of the Crimea. Hence the enemy was
always well informed on German shipping movements
and on the number of ships in port, and was in a
position to make bombing raids from their
favorably placed air bases at the right time*
Daily attacks on our convoys and naval ferry
barges off the Crimean coast and between
Sevastopol and Odossa compelled us to sail convoys
at night 'in stages. The loss of time had to bo
accepted.

The torpedo bombers which with bomber formations
have recently been raiding our convoys in a pincer
attack constitute a special threat to our convoys
in the northwestern Black Sea. This danger has
become even greater now that the enemy possesses
airfields much nearer our convoy routes following
the reoccupation of the territory north of the
Crimea.

During 1943, 311 air attacks were made on convoys
and formations at sea, while ports were raided
95 9 times.'

In these attacks, the enemy destroyed:

13 naval ferry barges

2 motor minesweepers
1 E-boat

8 harbor defense boats
1 tug

3 steamers totaling 8,950 G.R.T.
8 lighters totaling 5,6 00 G.R.T.

14,550 G.R.T.

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Our naval forces shot down 52 pianos

Our naval shore detachments shot down 59 planes

Total 91 planes

d. Enemy MlneJLajrin^^ctj^vit^;:

Planes, submarines and, to a lesser degree, small
vessels we're engaged on enemy mine laying operations

The centers of this activity were Kerch Strait,
where the enemy attempted to cut off our supplies
to the Kuban bridgehead, off the south coast of
the Taman Peninsula, to interrupt the most
important route to Anapa, close to the Crimean
coast and off the west coast between Constantza
and Bugaz. No large offensive minefields have
been discovered. Planes laid standard mines
(ground mines ) and moored mines and, as far as is
known," submarines and surface vessels laid
inertia-contact mines and horned mines.

The following losses were sustained in 1943 to
enemy mines s

13 naval ferry barges
1 E-boat
5 tugs

1 steamer 1,736 G.R.I.

1 motor vessel 5 00 G.R.T.
5 lighters 5,5 00 G.R.T.

5,736 G.R.T.

c • Summary ;

During 1943 the Russian Fleet in no way seized
the opportunities afforded by its superiority in
numbers. It is not known whether, for political
reasons, the Russians prefer the presence of a
dominant fleet in the Black Sea to possible
successes in naval warfare, and are therefore not
prepared to take the risk of operations, or
whether material defects in the ships are
responsible for their staying in port, or whether
the presence of our U-boats and E-boats deterred
them. It is assumed that the inactivity of the
Russian Fleet may be partly explained by all
three reasons,

VII. Survey for 1945

■*•* The following enemy vessels were sunk or destroyed;

a* Naval vessels

Submarines 5

M.T.B.s 8

Torpedoboats 1

Escort boats 1

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In 1943, 208 moored mines and 59 standard mines were
swept •

V • Naval Gunnery Detachments and Naval Shore Detachments

a • Naval Shore Commander, Caucasus :

At the end of the advance in the Caucasus, Naval
Gunnery Detachment 613 reported 7 light and medium
captured batteries ready for action. The 15.5
cm. Battery Breslau was especially successful in
the fighting for Novorossisk,

During the retreat from the Kuban bridgehead, the
naval shore detachments did excellent work both
In gunnery and with the infantry In combatting
landings and advancing enemy forces. In the
final evacuation of the bridgehead the naval
batteries repeatedly intervened in land battles.
The units of Naval Shore Commander played a great
part In the defense of Novorossisk* The light
artillery employed in defense of the port sank the
following vessels in the course of enemy landings
in the harbor and inner bay:

1
2
1
7
2

motor gunboat
M.T.B.s
patrol boat
landing craft
rubber dinghies.

The units of Naval Gunnery Detachment 614 In and
south of Kerch took part in the battle which
finally liquidated the enemy forces who landed at
Eltigen in November.

b# Naval Shore Commander, Ukraine;

Three light and 2 medium batteries from Naval
Gunnery Detachment 614 were employed in the
defense of the north coast of the Sea of Azov from
Taganrog to Berdyansk. In the course of the with-
drawal, the light artillery and anti-aircraft
batteries repeatedly Intervened in the land
fighting and air battles with good results.

After the front had been withdrawn to Genichesk,
the batteries were employed as Army artillery on
Arabatzkaya Peninsula, in Chongar and on the
Perekop Isthmus. They played an important part
in the defense of the northern approaches to the
Crimea and repulsed minor landing attempts on
Arabatzkaya,

After the regrouping, Naval Gunnery Detachment 614
became a detachment of 150th Artillery Regiment in
the Ishum-Armiansk area. Tasks: To reinforce
the Army artillery in 50th Infantry Division,

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defend the Chuvash Peninsula and the ferry point
east of Malaya Peninsula,

c • Naval Shore Commander, Crimea ;

Nothing to report from the batteries of Naval
Shore Commander, Crimea, It can be taken as
certain, however, that the well-constructed
coastal fortifications have prevented the enemy
from attacking the Crimean coast west of Theodosia,

a • §_urjCaj3G Jfejr c_e_s :

As far as is known, the nucleus of the Russian
Fleet did not leave the bases of Poti and Batum
during 1945, Destroyer and torpedoboat operations
were restricted to some long-range sorties into
the western Black Sea and as far as the Crimean
coast, presumably with the object of intercepting
our convoys. None of our ships was lost. On
6 October, 3 destroyers were sunk by dive-bombers
after ineffectively shelling Yalta and Alushta,
Two destroyers had previously been forced to
withdraw in the face of torpedo attacks by our
E-boats ,

Apart from individual offensive operations, the
destroyers and torpedoboats were occasionally
employed as convoy escorts, especially for ta.nkers
between Batum and Tuapse,

Light Piussian surface forces became very active
in the Black Sea and in the Sea of Azov, They
were the backbone of the landing operations.
The enemy used these boats to escort convoys off
the Caucasus coast and for anti-submarine operations
near the shipping lanes and minefield operations
off the Tainan coast and in the southern part of
Kerch Strait,

b , Submarines :

In the course of the year, enemy submarine activity
steadily increased. Of the 30 submarines still
available the enemy kept an average of six in the
operational area or at sea between the base and the
operational area. Enemy submarines concentrated
off the Crimean coast, especially In Eupatoria Bay,
the Cons tan tza-Bugaz area and off the Bosporus,
The enom;/ is aware of the importance of the sea
routes to the Crimea now that land communications
have been cut and during the last 2 months has
concentrated submarines in the Cape Tarkhankutzkl-
Eupatorla area, that is, where shipping to
Sevastopol converges.

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Motor gunboabs 21

Submarine chasers 1

Q-ships 1

Guar db oats 3

Landing craft 61

Total 102

b. Mercha n t _s hips_

Freighters 8 totaling 13,000 G.R.T.

Tankers 5 " 27,000 G.R.T.

Coastal freighters 20 " 9,100 G.R.T.

Lighters 18 " 9,100 G.R.T.

Tugs 3

Various small vessels 52

Total 86 totaling 58,200 G.R.T.

^ • Planes shot; down :

a. By ships 52

b . By naval shore
detachments 3_9

Total 91

2,050 vessels totaling 1,340,469 G.R.T.

4 • 21______L_E„ •

a. Moored mines 208

b. Standard mines 59

Total 267

5, Mi ne f I e 1 d s laid %

50 minefields containing 4,776 mines

1,119 explosive floats
Total F,895 mines and floats

6 • Ammunition used by ships and shore units t

a. Medium artillery 14,5 00 rounds

b. Light artillery 42, '700 rounds

c. Medium, anti-aircraft guns 19,500 rounds

d. Light anti-aircraft guns 520,000 rounds

Total 596,7 00 rounds

Own flosses due to enemy action;

a • Naval ves sels

E -boats 2

Motor minesweepers 2

Naval ferry barges 29

Harbor defense boats 10

Total 43

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b. Merchant vessels

Freighters
Motor ships
Lighters
Tugs

8 totaling 3 0,74-0 G.R.T.

1 " 5 00 G.R.T.

14 " 9,610 G.R.T.

27 totaling 40,85 0 G.R.T.

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